St. Thomas Aquinas on Acquiring Knowledge
A Letter of Saint Thomas Aquinas to Brother John
Because you have asked me, my brother John, most dear to me in Christ, how to set about acquiring the treasure of knowledge, this is the advice I pass on to you: that you should choose to enter by the small rivers, and not go right away into the sea, because you should move from easy things to difficult things.
Such is therefore my advice on your way of life:
I suggest you be slow to speak, and slow to go to the room where people chat.
Embrace purity of conscience; do not stop making time for prayer.
Love to be in your room frequently, if you wish to be lead to the wine cellar
Show yourself to be likable to all, or at least try; but do not show yourself as too familiar with anyone; because too much familiarity breeds contempt and will slow you in your studies; and don’t get involved in any way in the deeds and words of worldly people.
Above all, avoid idle conversation; do not forget to follow the steps of holy and approved men.
Never mind who says what, but commit to memory what is said that is true: work to understand what you read, and make yourself sure of doubtful points.
Put whatever your can into the cupboard of your mind as if you were trying to fill a cup.
“Seek not the things that are higher than you.”
Follow the steps of blessed Dominic, who produced useful and marvelous shoots, flowers and fruits in the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts for as long as life was his companion.
If you follow these things, you will attain to whatever you desire.
Fare well.
(Follow the link below for the above text in Latin.)
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Quia quaesisti a me, in Christo mihi carissime frater Joannes, quomodo oportet incedere in thesauro scientiae acquirendo, tale a me tibi super hoc traditur consilium; ut per rivulos, et non statim in mare, eligas introire; quia per facilia ad difficilia oportet devenire.
Huiusmodi est ergo monitio mea de vita tua:
Tardiloquum te esse iubeo, et tarde ad locutorium accendentem;
Conscientiae puritatem amplecti; Orationi vacare non desinas;
Cellam frequenter diligas, si vis in cellam vinariam introduci;
Omnibus amabilem te exhibeas, vel exhibere studias; sed nemini familiarem te multum ostendas; quia nimia familiaritas parit contemptum et retardationis materiam a studio administrat; Et de factis et verbis saecularium nullatenus te intromittas;
Discursum super omnia fugias; Sanctorum et proborum virorum imitari vestigia non omittas.
Non respicias a quo, sed quod sane dicatur memoriae recommenda: Ea quae legis fac ut intelligas, de dubiis te certificans.
Et quidquid poteris, in armariolo mentis reponere satage sicut cupiens vas implere;
“Altiora te ne quaeras.”
Illius beati Dominici sequere vestigia, qui frondes, flores et fructus, utiles ac mirabiles, in vinea Domini Sabaoth, dum vitam comitem habuit, protulit ac produxit.
Haec si secutus fueris, ad id attingere poteris, quidquid affectas.
Vale.