FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1406   1407   1408   1409   1410   1411   1412   1413   1414   1415   1416   1417   1418   1419   1420   1421   1422   1423   1424   1425   1426   1427   1428   1429   1430  
1431   1432   1433   1434   1435   1436   1437   1438   1439   1440   1441   1442   1443   1444   1445   1446   1447   1448   1449   1450   1451   1452   1453   1454   1455   >>   >|  
ore soul-wearied than another, according as he is more intensely occupied with works of reason. Now just as weariness of the body is dispelled by resting the body, so weariness of the soul must needs be remedied by resting the soul: and the soul's rest is pleasure, as stated above (I-II, Q. 25, A. 2; I-II, Q. 31, A. 1, ad 2). Consequently, the remedy for weariness of soul must needs consist in the application of some pleasure, by slackening the tension of the reason's study. Thus in the _Conferences of the Fathers_ (xxiv, 21), it is related of Blessed John the Evangelist, that when some people were scandalized on finding him playing together with his disciples, he is said to have told one of them who carried a bow to shoot an arrow. And when the latter had done this several times, he asked him whether he could do it indefinitely, and the man answered that if he continued doing it, the bow would break. Whence the Blessed John drew the inference that in like manner man's mind would break if its tension were never relaxed. Now such like words or deeds wherein nothing further is sought than the soul's delight, are called playful or humorous. Hence it is necessary at times to make use of them, in order to give rest, as it were, to the soul. This is in agreement with the statement of the Philosopher (Ethic. iv, 8) that "in the intercourse of this life there is a kind of rest that is associated with games": and consequently it is sometimes necessary to make use of such things. Nevertheless it would seem that in this matter there are three points which require especial caution. The first and chief is that the pleasure in question should not be sought in indecent or injurious deeds or words. Wherefore Tully says (De Offic. i, 29) that "one kind of joke is discourteous, insolent, scandalous, obscene." Another thing to be observed is that one lose not the balance of one's mind altogether. Hence Ambrose says (De Offic. i, 20): "We should beware lest, when we seek relaxation of mind, we destroy all that harmony which is the concord of good works": and Tully says (De Offic. i, 29), that, "just as we do not allow children to enjoy absolute freedom in their games, but only that which is consistent with good behavior, so our very fun should reflect something of an upright mind." Thirdly, we must be careful, as in all other human actions, to conform ourselves to persons, time, and place, and take due account of other circumstances,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1406   1407   1408   1409   1410   1411   1412   1413   1414   1415   1416   1417   1418   1419   1420   1421   1422   1423   1424   1425   1426   1427   1428   1429   1430  
1431   1432   1433   1434   1435   1436   1437   1438   1439   1440   1441   1442   1443   1444   1445   1446   1447   1448   1449   1450   1451   1452   1453   1454   1455   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

pleasure

 
weariness
 

sought

 

Blessed

 

resting

 

reason

 

tension

 

absolute

 

freedom

 
persons

caution

 

question

 

harmony

 

indecent

 

injurious

 
concord
 

especial

 
things
 

Nevertheless

 

children


circumstances
 
account
 
matter
 

require

 

points

 

Wherefore

 

conform

 

observed

 

balance

 

reflect


Another
 

altogether

 

behavior

 
beware
 

Ambrose

 

obscene

 

scandalous

 

destroy

 
relaxation
 
actions

consistent
 

upright

 
insolent
 

discourteous

 

Thirdly

 

careful

 

related

 

Evangelist

 

people

 

Fathers