A Topic of Moral Theology
Pusillanimity
Shrinking from what one could and ought to attempt, the vice opposed to magnanimity.
The works themselves ask 3 questions under this heading — see them together with their answers.
In the index as Pusillanimity · Ambition · Vainglory · Magnanimity · Capital Vices · Magnificence · Patience · Perseverance · Presumption · Timidity · Boasting · Fortitude · Hypocrisy · Impatience · Parvificence · Pertinacity · Presumption of Self · A rash judgment · Boldness · Consumption · Contention · Cowardice · Daring · Despair
In the manuals
Read the manuals side by side → — each work's whole treatment in its own column
A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries
Vol. I, Bk. IV, Pt. II, Ch. II, 1. Pride, n. 2 — To pride is opposed humility, the virtue which occupies the mean between the two extremes of pride and pusillanimity or mean-spiritedness. The mean-spirited man refuses to take the place for which his talents fit him, an… Read in context →
Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)
Vol. I, Bk. I, Tr. III, Diss. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Ch. II, Art. III, § II, Point I. On Magnanimity, n. 422 — III. Opposed Vices. By excess there are opposed to magnanimity: presumption, by which someone attacks great things above his powers; ambition, by which someone inordinately seeks honor; vain glory, by which someone inord… Read in context →
Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)
Vol. I, Pt. II, Q. I, Art. 4. The Virtue of Hope, The Sins Against Hope, n. 1084 — Presumption and Unbelief. Presumption and Unbelief.—(a) Presumption is joined with unbelief whenever it proceeds from a speculatively false judgment about matters of faith. Persons, however, who are in error (e.g., Pelagians, Lutherans, Calvinist… Read in context →
Vol. I, Pt. II, Q. I, Art. 7. The Sins Against L…, The Sin of Envy, n. 1330 — The Subjects of Envy. The Subjects of Envy.—(a) The persons most inclined to envy are of two quite different types, namely, the ambitious and the pusillanimous. The ambitious man ardently covets honors, and he is correspondingly saddened when… Read in context →
Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. II, Art. 7. The Virtue of Fort…, Pusillanimity, n. 2451 — Vice Opposed to Greatness of Soul by Defect. Vice Opposed to Greatness of Soul by Defect.—The sin opposed to greatness of soul by defect is pusillanimity (littleness of soul), which does not desire great things when one should desire them. (a) Pusillanimity is sinf… Read in context →
Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)
Vol. I, On Sins and Virtues, V. On the Capital Vices, nn. 322 & 344 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)
Vol. I, On Sins and Virtues, VI. On Virtues, n. 348 — What is fortitude, what are its parts, and what vices are opposed to it? - R. To the first. Fortitude is the virtue which moderates and strengthens the soul against grave dangers, especially of death. - No precept per se… Read in context →
Manuale Theologiae Moralis
Vol. II, Tr. XII, Chapter IV. On the Vices Opposed Both to Fortitude and to the Annexed Virtues, nn. 638, 639, 640, 641 & 642 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)
Summa Theologiae Moralis
Vol. II, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On the Cardinal …, Second Part: On the Virtue…, Question One: On Magnanimity, Article II: On Sins Opposed to Magnanimity, nn. ¶1, 918, 919 & 920 (15 passages — hover a number to read it)
Palladium Theologicum, Tome V: On the Virtues
Tr. V, Disputation II: On the Vir…, Question II: On the vices opposed to magnanimity, nn. 1–21 (21 passages)
Treated under the broader heading Magnanimity — Tanquerey · Rickaby, Moral Philosophy · Rickaby, Four-Square — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)