“ The object of virtue is the difficult and the good. ”
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1274). copy citation
| Author | Thomas Aquinas |
|---|---|
| Source | Summa Theologica |
| Topic | virtue good |
| Date | 1274 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17611/pg17611-images.html |
Context
“and since grace is the source of merit, our actions are more meritorious.
Obj. 2: Further, struggle and difficulty are required for merit; for it is written (2 Tim. 2:5) : "He . . . is not crowned except he strive lawfully" and the Philosopher says (Ethic. ii, 3) : "The object of virtue is the difficult and the good." But there is more strife and difficulty now. Therefore there is greater efficacy for merit.
Obj. 3: Further, the Master says (Sent. ii., D, xxiv) that "man would not have merited in resisting temptation;”
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