“It is necessary for the perfection of human society that there should be men who devote their lives to contemplation.”

“Better to illuminate than merely to shine to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.”

“How is it they live in such harmony, the billions of stars, when most men can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds?”

“Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.”

“There would not be a perfect likeness of God in the universe if all things were of one grade of being.”

“The human mind may perceive truth only through thinking, as is clear from Augustine.”

“Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take us over, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.”