Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question VIII: On the vices opposed to perseverance
The chief vice opposed to Perseverance, as Bl. Bonaventure teaches, in speculo animae, cap. 1. and p. p. Centil. sect. 18., is Obstinacy, at whose extreme stands softness. So Bl. Thomas, quaest. 138. art. 1. Obstinacy has excess, softness defect. For the praise of Perseverance is that one not withdraw from good on account of difficulties; from which both the soft man withdraws, who lightly yields to difficulties; and the obstinate, who persists in his purpose beyond reason; for the obstinate man is an impudent holder-fast, as Isidore says, lib. 10. Etymol.
De Vitiis, PERSEVERANTIAE oppositis.
Praecipuum vitium oppositum Perseverantiae, ut docet D. Bonavent. in speculo animae, cap. 1. et p. p. Centil. sect. 18. est Pertinacia, e cuius extremo stat mollities. Ita D. Thom. quaest. 138. art. 1. Pertinacia excessum, mollities vero defectum habet. Laus enim Perseverantiae est, ut non recedatur a bono ob difficultates; a quo recedit et mollis, qui leviter cedit difficultatibus; et pertinax, qui ultra rationem in suo proposito persistat; est enim pertinax, impudenter tenax, ut ait Isidorus lib. 10. Etymol.
These Aristotle calls in 7. Eth. cap. 9. Ischyrognomones, that is, of strong opinion, or Idiognomones, that is, of their own opinion, more than is fitting. As it were nails fixed in a wall, which are the gnomons on clocks.
Hos vocat Aristoteles 7. Eth. cap. 9. Ischyrognomones, idest, fortis sententiae, vel Idiognomones, idest, propriae sententiae, plusquam oportet. Quasi clavi muro confixi, qui in horologiis sunt Gnomones.
But the magnitude of the vices opposed to Perseverance is to be estimated from the reason of the matter in which one falls short, or in which one persists beyond what is due, and from the consequent losses.
Magnitudo autem vitiorum, quae Perseverantiae opponuntur, a ratione materiae, in qua quis deficit, seu in qua quis ultra debitum persistit, damnisque consecutis, aestimanda est.