# Thomas Aquinas urged sharing wisdom over personal brilliance

2026-08-07T23:04:09+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

Thomas Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologiae that 'it is better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.' The Times of India reports that the 13th-century Dominican friar was defending his order's mission of public preaching against critics who valued silent contemplation. Aquinas argued that knowledge gained through contemplation must be shared to be complete. He compared the active life of teaching with the contemplative life and concluded that combining both was superior. The phrase 'Contemplata aliis tradere', to hand down to others the fruits of contemplation, became the Dominican motto.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/quote-of-the-day-by-thomas-aquinas-better-to-illuminate-than-merely-to-shine-to-deliver-to-others-and-the-case-for-sharing-what-you-know-before-it-dies-with-you/articleshow/133041766.cms>

Tags: leadership, philosophy, sharing, Summa Theologiae, Thomas Aquinas, wisdom
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