12/01/2018 Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an Intellectual | Intellectual Takeout

    

Search 

Culture Economics Education Family History Literature Philosophy

Politics Religion Science

Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an

Intellectual
Daniel La ier | July 17, 2015

    

    
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/aquinas-16-steps-becoming-intellectual 1/6
12/01/2018 Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an Intellectual | Intellectual Takeout

An apprenticeship under a master is perhaps the best way to learn

something. So it also goes with learning itself. If you want to become an
intellectual, it helps to seek training from a master intellect.

Undoubtedly, St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was one of the greatest

intellects the world has known. He once told someone that God had given
him the grace “of having understood whatever I have read.”

Fortunately for us, in a letter to a fellow monk (De Modo Studendi), he left
behind the following 16 pieces of advice about how to become a better
intellectual (translation from the Latin is my own):

1) Enter through rivers and not immediately into the sea. Master that which is
easier before you tackle the more difficult.

2) Be slow to speak.

3) Don’t frequent noisy places.

4) Live a good moral life.

5) Pray.

6) Love the space in which you study.

7) Be pleasant to all people.

8) Don’t worry about the affairs of others.

9) Don’t be overly familiar with anyone, since it breeds contempt and takes
away from study.

10) Don’t spend much time reflecting on the words and deeds of worldly
people.

11) Above all else, flee frequent conversation. Follow in the footsteps of
those who are good.

12) Don’t worry about who you learn from.

13) Commit to memory whatever worthwhile comes from your teacher.

14) Do the same with what you read and hear. Work hard that you may
understand. Look into whatever is in doubt.
    
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/aquinas-16-steps-becoming-intellectual 2/6
12/01/2018 Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an Intellectual | Intellectual Takeout

15) Store everything you can in the closet of your mind. Fill it up as you
would a vessel.

16) Don’t seek what is too high for you.

Granted, some of these pieces of advice may work better for the monks who
were Aquinas’ original audience. But, in my experience, the basic contours
of his recommendations still apply today. If you want to grow as an
intellectual, you need patience, you need silence, you need time for
contemplation, and you need to be voracious in your love of learning.

Image Credit

Dan is the Vice President of Intellectual Takeout. He received his

B.A. in Philosophy and Catholic Studies from the University of St.
Thomas (MN), and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Systematic Theology
from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can
find his academic work at Academia.edu.

E-mail Dan

REPUBLISH

    
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/aquinas-16-steps-becoming-intellectual 3/6
12/01/2018 Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an Intellectual | Intellectual Takeout

2 Comments I-TO 
1 Login

Sort by Best
 Recommend ⤤ Share

Join the discussion…

LOG IN WITH
OR SIGN UP WITH DISQUS ?

Name

Jeff Pearson Floyd • 7 months ago

First, learn how to make as much money as you can so you don't end up an intellectual giant
sitting in the middle of the Salvation Army eating Xmas dinner.
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

Gerardo Vazquez • 8 months ago

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
△ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

ALSO ON I-TO

The Sexual Revolution That Needs to This Week I Was Denied a Service
Happen, But Won't Because of the Company’s …
6 comments • 8 hours ago 31 comments • 4 days ago
godot42 — It's a clumsy way of describing Harry 1951 — Those are the very thoughts I
compassion. had however my training is lacking to present
them so eloquently. There is possibly no …

Everything You Know About the Gospel of The Future Will Not Be Dull | Intellectual
Paul is Probably Wrong Takeout
20 comments • 4 days ago 1 comment • 2 days ago
Quartermaster — " But for Paul, pistis largely Paul Hosse — Interesting, but the author
consists in works of obedience to God and love failed to make a key acknowlegement. The US
of others."This patently false. The … is not a "representative capialialist …

✉ Subscribe d Add Disqus to your siteAdd DisqusAdd 🔒 Privacy

    
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/aquinas-16-steps-becoming-intellectual 4/6
12/01/2018 Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an Intellectual | Intellectual Takeout

Pursue truth
with us!

GIVE NOW

Get thought-provoking
content delivered to your
inbox every day!
Subscribe to IT's newsle er.

Enter your email address 

G R E AT E S T H I T S

Good Grammar in Text Messages Might Make You Look Like a Jerk
 6 mins  113,443

    
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/aquinas-16-steps-becoming-intellectual 5/6
12/01/2018 Aquinas’ 16 Steps to Becoming an Intellectual | Intellectual Takeout

What Philosophical School of Thought do you fall in?

 0 mins  152,468

Snowden: Stop Pu ing So Much Faith (and Fear) in Presidents

 2 ½ mins  502,183

Ladies: The Draft is Coming

 2 mins  308,999

    
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/aquinas-16-steps-becoming-intellectual 6/6