Aristotle believed that this desire helps us to understand the nature of wisdom, and that it points human nature toward wisdom.

Aquinas, a 13th-century philosopher and theologian, believed that wisdom was the ultimate goal of human pursuits. He considered wisdom to be:

The highest gift of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom is the perfection of faith, and it allows people to properly value the things they believe in through faith.

A gift that can be acquired through study: Wisdom can be acquired through knowledge human reason, without supernatural aid, can establish the existence of God and the immortality of the soul;

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) believed that faith and reason were central to the relationship between God and humanity, and that they operated in a reciprocal manner. He declared that "faith precedes reason" because nisi credideritis, non intelligetis, unless you believe, you will not understand.