Treatise III. On Those Things which Dispose Toward Human Acts, or on Habits

I. The name habit is said to be derived from the verb to have, insofar as by this verb is indicated the manner in which something has itself in itself, either well or badly. A habit can be defined: A quality stable of itself, by which a subject is disposed well or badly, either according to itself or in order to operation. It is said:

A quality stable of itself, i.e., a quality by its nature difficult to move, since its subject is of the immaterial order; and thus it is distinguished from a disposition, "to which it belongs according to its proper nature that it be easily lost, because it has a changeable cause, as sickness and health do" (St. Thomas, I-II, q. 49, a. 2, ad 3).
By which a subject is disposed well or badly, i.e., according as the subject has a certain mode either fitting or unfitting to its nature.
Either according to itself or in order to operation, i.e., either according to its essence, and it is called an entitative habit; or according to its powers, and it is called an operative habit (St. Thomas, I-II, q. 49).

II. In what follows we shall discuss only operative habits. But since the things to be said about the habits of virtues are easily applied to habit as such, it is pleasing to abstain here from further investigation of habit, but to insert it into those things which we shall present concerning virtues in general. And thus it will happen that we avoid saying the same things twice, and that we bring greater light to the virtues themselves.

Moreover, there will not be a special discussion of bad habits, partly because enough has been said about them above, and partly again because many things to be said about the habits of virtues are easily applied to bad habits.

III. Good operative habits are virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Hence:

Virtue in General

Within this part

Dissertation I. On Virtuesnn. 334–468
- Part I. On Virtues in Generalnn. 334–351
  - Section I. On the Notion, Object, Division, and Specific Distinction of Virtuesnn. 334–337
  - Section II. On the Subject of Inherence of Virtuesn. 338
  - Section III. On the Origin of Virtuesnn. 339–340
  - Section IV. On the Increase of Virtues and on their Diminution and Destructionnn. 341–343
  - Section V. On the Permanence of Virtues After This Lifenn. 344–346
  - Section VI. On the Properties of Virtuesnn. 347–351
    Scholion. On the Relation Between Natural or Acquired Virtues and Supernatural Virtuesnn. 350–351
- Part II. On Virtues in Particularnn. 352–468
  - Section I. On Theological Virtuesnn. 352–366
    Chapter I. On Theological Virtues in Generalnn. 352–353
    Chapter II. On Theological Virtues in Particularnn. 354–366
    Article I. On the Theological Virtue of Faithnn. 354–358
    Article II. On the Theological Virtue of Hopenn. 359–362
    Article III. On the Theological Virtue of Charitynn. 363–366
  - Section II. On Supernatural Moral Virtuesnn. 367–468
    Chapter I. On Supernatural Moral Virtues in Generalnn. 367–370
    Chapter II. On Supernatural Moral Virtues in Particularnn. 371–468
    Article I. On Prudencenn. 371–376
    Article II. On Justicenn. 377–415
    § I. On Justice in Generalnn. 377–379
    § II. On the Subjective and Integral Parts of Justicenn. 380–383
    § III. On the Potential Parts of Justicenn. 384–415
    Point I. On Religionnn. 385–388
    Point II. On Penancenn. 389–393
    Point III. On Pietynn. 394–396
    Point IV. On Observancenn. 397–400
    Point V. On Truthnn. 401–403
    Point VI. On Gratitudenn. 404–406
    Point VII. On Vindicationnn. 407–409
    Point VIII. On Liberalitynn. 410–412
    Point IX. On Affabilitynn. 413–415
    Article III. On Fortitudenn. 416–431
    § I. On Fortitude Itselfnn. 416–418
    § II. On the Parts of Fortitudenn. 419–431
    Point I. On Magnanimitynn. 420–422
    Point II. On Magnificencenn. 423–425
    Point III. On Patiencenn. 426–428
    Point IV. On Perseverancenn. 429–431
    Article IV. On Temperancenn. 432–468
    § I. On Temperance in Generalnn. 432–434
    § II. On the Subjective Parts of Temperancenn. 435–444
    Point I. On Abstinencenn. 435–437
    Point II. On Sobrietynn. 438–440
    Point III. On Chastitynn. 441–444
    § III. On the Integral Parts of Temperancen. 445
    § IV. On the Potential Parts of Temperancenn. 446–468
    Point I. On Meeknessnn. 447–449
    Point II. On Clemencynn. 450–452
    Point III. On Modestynn. 453–468
    I. On Humilitynn. 454–456
    II. On Studiositynn. 457–459
    III. On Modesty of Conductnn. 460–462
    IV. On Eutrapelynn. 463–465
    V. On Modesty of Attirenn. 466–468
Dissertation II. On the Gifts of the Holy Spiritnn. 469–483
- Part I. On the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Generalnn. 469–474
- Part II. On the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Particularnn. 475–483
  - Scholion. On the Beatitudes and Fruitsnn. 482–483