Theology Quotes: Some of my Favorite Quotations from Theologians

A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.  --Thomas Aquinas (Hereafter, Aquinas)

A man should remind himself that an object of faith is not scientifically demonstrable, lest presuming to demonstrate what is of faith, he should produce inconclusive reasons and offer occasion for unbelievers to scoff at a faith based on such ground.  --Aquinas

All the efforts of the human mind cannot exhaust the essence of a single fly.  --Aquinas

Beware of the person of one book. --Aquinas

Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will. --Aquinas

Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason. --Aquinas

If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way. --Aquinas

Justice is a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him. --Aquinas

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.  --John Calvin (Hereafter Calvin)

There is only one theology, but there are many theologians. --Athenagoras I

Love takes up where knowledge leaves off. --Aquinas

All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors. --Calvin

Most men seem to live according to sense [we would say feeling] rather than reason. --Aquinas

Well-ordered self-love is right and natural. --Aquinas

Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols. --Calvin

There is no one so great or mighty that he can avoid the misery that will rise up against him when he resists and strives against God. --Calvin

Yet consider now, whether women are not quite past sense and reason, when they want to rule over men.  --Calvin

Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith.  --Reinhold Niebuhr

Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes. --Dietrich Bonhoeffer

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts. --Calvin

There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence. --Calvin

I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels. --Calvin

Knowledge of the sciences is so much smoke apart from the heavenly science of Christ. --Calvin

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keeps us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief. --Calvin

Theology is faith seeking understanding.  --Anselm    

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. --Augustine

For, were it not good that evil things should also exist, the omnipotent God would almost certainly not allow evil to be, since beyond doubt it is just as easy for Him not to allow what He does not will, as for Him to do what He will. --Augustine

Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt. --Augustine

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. --Augustine

Love is the beauty of the soul. --Augustine

Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. --Augustine