William of Ockham
A Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher, known for 'Ockham's Razor', the principle of parsimony.
Quotes by William of Ockham
God's will is absolutely free.
Moral good and evil depend on God's will.
There is no intrinsic good or evil in actions apart from God's command.
The Pope is not infallible.
The Church is the community of the faithful, not just the hierarchy.
The Emperor has authority independent of the Pope.
Temporal power is distinct from spiritual power.
The Pope can err, and has erred.
The poverty of Christ and the Apostles is a matter of faith.
The Franciscans' claim to evangelical poverty is legitimate.
The Pope has no right to interfere in temporal affairs.
The Emperor derives his power directly from God, not from the Pope.
The Church should not possess temporal wealth.
A general council is superior to the Pope.
The Pope is subject to the law of God and the law of the Gospel.
No human being has absolute power.
The power of the Pope is limited by divine law and natural law.
The truth is to be sought in the Scriptures, not in papal decrees.
The Church is not a monarchy, but a community.
The Pope is a minister, not a lord, of the Church.