Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by

The great philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas once declared, “Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man’s own will.” In these few words lies the distilled essence of an eternal truth — that happiness is not a gift bestowed by chance, nor a treasure stumbled upon in the world’s fleeting pleasures, but the fruit of virtue, born of deliberate and disciplined will. Aquinas, a man of divine intellect and humble soul, spoke as one who saw clearly that the deepest joy of man is not found in the things he possesses, but in the kind of person he chooses to become.

To understand this wisdom, we must first know the age from which it sprang. In the thirteenth century, Aquinas stood at the crossroads of faith and reason, uniting the sacred truths of Christianity with the philosophical light of Aristotle. In his great work, Summa Theologica, he taught that the highest good — the final purpose of all human striving — is beatitudo, true and complete happiness. But unlike the happiness that fades with wealth, pleasure, or power, this happiness endures, for it springs from virtue — the ordering of the soul toward what is right, just, and eternal. For Aquinas, virtue was not mere morality, but harmony — the alignment of the human will with the divine will, so that man lives in accordance with truth, reason, and love.

He tells us that happiness is not the accident of fortune, but the achievement of character. Many men seek it in gold, glory, or indulgence, but such pursuits only leave the soul thirsting for more. Like drinking salt water to quench thirst, these pleasures deepen hunger rather than satisfy it. Virtue, however, transforms desire itself. The man of virtue finds joy in patience, in kindness, in honesty, and in courage, for his happiness does not depend on what he owns, but on what he is. And because these qualities lie within his control — within the realm of his own will — no misfortune can rob him of them. The virtuous man, even in sorrow, remains inwardly free.

Consider the example of Socrates, who centuries before Aquinas, drank the cup of poison with serenity. He could have fled from death, but he chose instead to remain true to his principles. His happiness was not found in survival, but in fidelity to virtue — in living, and dying, in harmony with truth. Likewise, Thomas More, standing before the axe of Henry VIII, refused to betray his conscience for worldly safety. When asked if he feared death, he smiled and said, “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.” These men teach us what Aquinas meant: that true happiness is the reward of a soul that obeys its higher nature, that refuses to bow to fear or temptation.

Virtue, then, is the bridge between man’s desires and his destiny. It disciplines the passions, tempers pride, and directs every act toward the good. And when the will is rightly guided, happiness follows as naturally as dawn follows night. For Aquinas believed that man is made in the image of God — and when his choices reflect that divine likeness, he becomes radiant with joy, a living harmony of reason and grace. This joy may not always be accompanied by pleasure or ease, but it is deeper, stronger, unbreakable — the peace that comes from knowing one’s life is in accord with truth.

And yet, my child, this path is not easy. Virtue demands effort; it must be practiced like the art of the craftsman or the training of the warrior. Each day, one must choose patience over anger, humility over pride, charity over indifference. It is by these small, deliberate victories of the will that the great citadel of happiness is built. Do not wait for fortune to favor you; do not look for joy in the eyes of others. Happiness is the work of your own soul. It begins when you decide to live with honor, to act with integrity, to love without condition.

Therefore, remember the teaching of Aquinas: happiness is secured through virtue. It does not lie in the world’s applause, nor in the comfort of circumstance, but in the quiet triumph of the heart that chooses good, again and again. Make your will your ally, your conscience your compass, and your virtue your crown. Then, no matter the storms that assail you, you will stand unshaken, radiant, and free — for your joy will not be borrowed from the world, but rooted in the eternal strength of your own soul.