"Everything I have written is straw." This quotation is attributed to Thomas Aquinas, philosopher-theologian and Dominican priest. I would like to find a biographic source to substantiate this as I have only received it as an oral transmission.
I also recall hearing that in his young student days he was known as "the dumb ox" by his fellows. That seems to fit with the straw metaphor nicely.
2 comments:
Hey, welcome to blogger, Nekkid!
I did a quick google on the phrase and nothing much, except another blogger and a reference in a book.
It's a good story anyhow.
ness
I received a great reply from Kione, moderator of Josephcampbellmythologygroup in Yahoo!Groups:
--- In themythiccafe@yahoogroups.com, "Kione" wrote:
>
> Hi Nekkid, the quote you refer is noted in the bio written by
Jacques
> Maritain and first published in 1930, which can be found online at:
>
> http://www2.nd.edu/Departments//Maritain/etext/thomas.htm
> ...
> The relevant passage is on this page:
>
> http://www2.nd.edu/Departments//Maritain/etext/thomas1.htm
> ,,,
> One day, December 6, 1273, while he was
> celebrating Mass in the of Saint Nicholas, a great change came over
him.
> From that moment he ceased writing and dictating.... "Reginald, I
can do no more; such things have been revealed to me that all
> that I have written seems to me as so much straw. Now, I await the
end of my
> life after that of my works." <<
Thanks for your kindness and research, Lady Kione!
I have another reference from the Jacques Maritain Center that has
the "dumb ox" reference but doesn't have the "straw".
Curiously similar, but different!
http://www2.nd.edu/Departments//Maritain/etext/stthomas.htm
nekkid
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