Theologian · 1225 – 1274
Thomas Aquinas
Little-Known Facts
- As a student he was so quiet that classmates nicknamed him the 'Dumb Ox' — until his brilliance became undeniable.
- Near the end of his life he had a mystical experience after which he stopped writing, calling his vast work 'so much straw'.
Myths & Misconceptions
Did Aquinas think faith and reason were opposed?
No. He argued they are complementary paths to truth — reason can demonstrate much about God and the world, while revelation supplies truths beyond reason's reach.