Source · a work in the library

Summa Contra Gentiles

English Dominican Fathers (1923)
Public domain
Thomas Aquinas · 1225–1274 1259
“It is clear to the sense that something, the sun for instance, is in motion. Therefore it is set in motion by something else moving it. Now that which moves it is itself either moved or not. If it be not moved, then the point is proved that we must needs postulate an immovable mover: and this we call God. If, however, it be moved, it is moved by another mover. Either, therefore, we must proceed to infinity, or we must come to an immovable mover. But it is not possible to proceed to infinity. Therefore it is necessary to postulate an immovable mover.”
Summa Contra Gentiles I, ch. 13 Source
Thomas Aquinas · 1225–1274 1259
“That which is stated to be moved by itself is moved primarily. Therefore if one of its parts is at rest, it follows that the whole is at rest … Hence that which was stated to be moved by itself, is not moved by itself. Therefore whatever is in motion must needs be moved by another.”
Summa Contra Gentiles I, ch. 13 — that nothing moves itself (a defense of the load-bearing premise) Source