Thomas Aquinas

Catholic philosopher and theologian

Medieval influential 134 sayings

Sayings by Thomas Aquinas

It is lawful to make war on infidels who refuse to accept the faith.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 10, Art. 8, Reply to Obj. 3
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The state has the right to suppress heresy by force.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 11, Art. 3
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It is lawful to resist a tyrant, if his tyranny is such as to endanger the common good.

c. 1265-1266 — De Regno, Book I, Chapter 6
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The greater the good that is sought, the more lawful it is to use violence.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 40, Art. 1, Reply to Obj. 1
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It is lawful to kill a man who is a public enemy, even if he is not a combatant.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 64, Art. 3
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The proper end of marriage is the procreation and education of children.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Supplement, Q. 49, Art. 1
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It is a greater sin to have sex with a woman who is not one's wife than to have sex with a beast.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 154, Art. 12, Reply to Obj. 2
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The natural law dictates that men should rule over women.

c. 1252-1256 — Commentary on the Sentences, Book 2, d. 20, q. 1, a. 1, ad 2
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It is lawful to torture a man to extract the truth from him, if he is accused of a grave crime.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 64, Art. 2, Reply to Obj. 3
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The good of the multitude is more divine than the good of the individual.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 152, Art. 5, Reply to Obj. 3
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It is lawful to take a man's property if he is an infidel and is warring against the Church.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 66, Art. 8
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The Church has the power to depose temporal rulers who are heretics.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 12, Art. 2
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It is lawful to kill a man who is a public sinner and incorrigible.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 64, Art. 2
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The end justifies the means, when the end is good and the means are not evil in themselves.

c. 1265-1274 — Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q. 23, Art. 7, Reply to Obj. 3
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