Article III: On Avarice

St. Thomas, II-II, q. 118; De Malo q. 13.

503. Avarice is the inordinate appetite of riches: but under the name of riches come all exterior goods insofar as they are useful to man and can be valued by money.

Avarice is twofold: 1. the inordinate appetite of riches in taking and retaining unduly, which is opposed to justice and therefore often is gravely evil; 2. the inordinate affection for riches, by which they are too much loved or desired or please too much in delight, which is opposed to liberality, and of itself is lightly evil, unless on account of affection for riches someone does not fear to commit some mortal sin, or constitutes his ultimate end in riches.

504. From avarice seven vices more frequently arise, as from a final cause, which are called its daughters. Insofar as it is immoderate in retaining, there arises 1. hardening of heart, or inhumanity against mercy toward neighbor; insofar as it is immoderate in taking, there arises 2. in affection: unrest or superfluous solicitude about acquiring goods; in effect: 3. violence, when someone uses force for acquiring goods; 4. fallacy, and 5. perjury, when he uses deceit in words, either simple words or words confirmed by oath; 6. fraud, and 7. betrayal, when he uses deceit in deed, either as to things or as to persons, as is clear concerning Judas, who from avarice betrayed Christ.