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Question: 112 [<< | >>]
We must now consider boasting and irony, which are parts of lying
according to the Philosopher (Ethic. iv, 7). Under the first head,
namely, boasting, there are two points of inquiry:
(1) To which virtue is it opposed?
(2) Whether it is a mortal sin?
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Question: 112 [<< | >>]
Article: 1 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It seems that boasting is not opposed to the virtue of truth. For
lying is opposed to truth. But it is possible to boast even without
lying, as when a man makes a show of his own excellence. Thus it is
written (Esther 1:3,4) that Assuerus "made a great feast . . . that he
might show the riches of the glory" and "of his kingdom, and the
greatness and boasting of his power." Therefore boasting is not opposed
to the virtue of truth.
Objection 2: Further, boasting is reckoned by Gregory (Moral. xxiii, 4) to be
one of the four species of pride, "when," to wit, "a man boasts of having
what he has not." Hence it is written (Jer. 48:29,30): "We have heard the
pride of Moab, he is exceeding proud: his haughtiness, and his arrogancy,
and his pride, and the loftiness of his heart. I know, saith the Lord,
his boasting, and that the strength thereof is not according to it."
Moreover, Gregory says (Moral. xxxi, 7) that boasting arises from
vainglory. Now pride and vainglory are opposed to the virtue of humility.
Therefore boasting is opposed, not to truth, but to humility.
Objection 3: Further, boasting seems to be occasioned by riches; wherefore it
is written (Wis. 5:8): "What hath pride profited us? or what advantage
hath the boasting of riches brought us?" Now excess of riches seems to
belong to the sin of covetousness, which is opposed to justice or
liberality. Therefore boasting is not opposed to truth.
On the contrary, The Philosopher says (Ethic. ii, 7; iv, 7), that
boasting is opposed to truth.
I answer that, "Jactantia" [boasting] seems properly to denote the
uplifting of self by words: since if a man wishes to throw [jactare] a
thing far away, he lifts it up high. And to uplift oneself, properly
speaking, is to talk of oneself above oneself [*Or 'tall-talking' as we
should say in English]. This happens in two ways. For sometimes a man
speaks of himself, not above what he is in himself, but above that which
he is esteemed by men to be: and this the Apostle declines to do when he
says (2 Cor. 12:6): "I forbear lest any man should think of me above that
which he seeth in me, or anything he heareth of me." In another way a man
uplifts himself in words, by speaking of himself above that which he is
in reality. And since we should judge of things as they are in
themselves, rather than as others deem them to be, it follows that
boasting denotes more properly the uplifting of self above what one is in
oneself, than the uplifting of self above what others think of one:
although in either case it may be called boasting. Hence boasting
properly so called is opposed to truth by way of excess.
Reply to Objection 1: This argument takes boasting as exceeding men's opinion.
Reply to Objection 2: The sin of boasting may be considered in two ways. First,
with regard to the species of the act, and thus it is opposed to truth;
as stated (in the body of the article and Question [110], Article [2]). Secondly, with
regard to its cause, from which more frequently though not always it
arises: and thus it proceeds from pride as its inwardly moving and
impelling cause. For when a man is uplifted inwardly by arrogance, it
often results that outwardly he boasts of great things about himself;
though sometimes a man takes to boasting, not from arrogance, but from
some kind of vanity, and delights therein, because he is a boaster by
habit. Hence arrogance, which is an uplifting of self above oneself, is a
kind of pride; yet it is not the same as boasting, but is very often its
cause. For this reason Gregory reckons boasting among the species of
pride. Moreover, the boaster frequently aims at obtaining glory through
his boasting, and so, according to Gregory, it arises from vainglory
considered as its end.
Reply to Objection 3: Wealth also causes boasting, in two ways. First, as an
occasional cause, inasmuch as a man prides himself on his riches. Hence
(Prov. 8:18) "riches" are significantly described as "proud" [Douay:
'glorious']. Secondly, as being the end of boasting, since according to
Ethic. iv, 7, some boast, not only for the sake of glory, but also for
the sake of gain. Such people invent stories about themselves, so as to
make profit thereby; for instance, they pretend to be skilled in
medicine, wisdom, or divination.
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Question: 112 [<< | >>]
Article: 2 [<< | >>]
Objection 1: It seems that boasting is a mortal sin. For it is written (Prov. 28:25): "He that boasteth, and puffeth himself, stirreth up quarrels."
Now it is a mortal sin to stir up quarrels, since God hates those that
sow discord, according to Prov. 6:19. Therefore boasting is a mortal sin.
Objection 2: Further, whatever is forbidden in God's law is a mortal sin. Now
a gloss on Ecclus. 6:2, "Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul,"
says: "This is a prohibition of boasting and pride." Therefore boasting
is a mortal sin.
Objection 3: Further, boasting is a kind of lie. But it is neither an
officious nor a jocose lie. This is evident from the end of lying; for
according to the Philosopher (Ethic. iv, 7), "the boaster pretends to
something greater than he is, sometimes for no further purpose, sometimes
for the sake of glory or honor, sometimes for the sake of money." Thus it
is evident that it is neither an officious nor a jocose lie, and
consequently it must be a mischievous lie. Therefore seemingly it is
always a mortal sin.
On the contrary, Boasting arises from vainglory, according to Gregory
(Moral. xxxi, 17). Now vainglory is not always a mortal sin, but is
sometimes a venial sin which only the very perfect avoid. For Gregory
says (Moral. viii, 30) that "it belongs to the very perfect, by outward
deeds so to seek the glory of their author, that they are not inwardly
uplifted by the praise awarded them." Therefore boasting is not always a
mortal sin.
I answer that, As stated above (Question [110], Article [4]), a mortal sin is one that
is contrary to charity. Accordingly boasting may be considered in two
ways. First, in itself, as a lie, and thus it is sometimes a mortal, and
sometimes a venial sin. It will be a mortal sin when a man boasts of that
which is contrary to God's glory---thus it is said in the person of the
king of Tyre (Ezech. 28:2): "Thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said:
I am God"---or contrary to the love of our neighbor, as when a man while
boasting of himself breaks out into invectives against others, as told of
the Pharisee who said (Lk. 18:11): "I am not as the rest of men,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican." Sometimes it
is a venial sin, when, to wit, a man boasts of things that are against
neither God nor his neighbor. Secondly, it may be considered with regard
to its cause, namely, pride, or the desire of gain or of vainglory: and
then if it proceeds from pride or from such vainglory as is a mortal sin,
then the boasting will also be a mortal sin: otherwise it will be a
venial sin. Sometimes, however, a man breaks out into boasting through
desire of gain, and for this very reason he would seem to be aiming at
the deception and injury of his neighbor: wherefore boasting of this kind
is more likely to be a mortal sin. Hence the Philosopher says (Ethic. iv,
7) that "a man who boasts for the sake of gain, is viler than one who
boasts for the sake of glory or honor." Yet it is not always a mortal sin
because the gain may be such as not to injure another man.
Reply to Objection 1: To boast in order to stir quarrels is a mortal sin. But it
happens sometimes that boasts are the cause of quarrels, not
intentionally but accidentally: and consequently boasting will not be a
mortal sin on that account.
Reply to Objection 2: This gloss speaks of boasting as arising from pride that is
a mortal sin.
Reply to Objection 3: Boasting does not always involve a mischievous lie, but
only where it is contrary to the love of God or our neighbor, either in
itself or in its cause. That a man boast, through mere pleasure in
boasting, is an inane thing to do, as the Philosopher remarks (Ethic. iv,
7): wherefore it amounts to a jocose lie. Unless perchance he were to
prefer this to the love of God, so as to contemn God's commandments for
the sake of boasting: for then it would be against the charity of God,
in Whom alone ought our mind to rest as in its last end.
To boast for the sake of glory or gain seen to involve an officious lie:
provided it be do without injury to others, for then it would once become
a mischievous lie.