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Objection 1: It seems that constancy does not pertain to
perseverance. For constancy pertains to patience, as stated above
(Question 137, Article 5): and patience differs from
perseverance. Therefore constancy does not pertain to perseverance.
Objection 2: Further, "virtue is about the difficult and the
good." Now it does not seem difficult to be constant in little
works, but only in great deeds, which pertain to magnificence.
Therefore constancy pertains to magnificence rather than to
perseverance.
Objection 3: Further, if constancy pertained to perseverance, it
would seem nowise to differ from it, since both denote a kind of
unchangeableness. Yet they differ: for Macrobius (In Somn.
Scip. i) condivides constancy with firmness by which he indicates
perseverance, as stated above (Question 128, Article 6).
Therefore constancy does not pertain to perseverance.
On the contrary, One is said to be constant because one stands to a
thing. Now it belongs to perseverance to stand to certain things, as
appears from the definition given by Andronicus. Therefore constancy
belongs to perseverance.
I answer that, Perseverance and constancy agree as to end, since it
belongs to both to persist firmly in some good: but they differ as to
those things which make it difficult to persist in good. Because the
virtue of perseverance properly makes man persist firmly in good,
against the difficulty that arises from the very continuance of the
act: whereas constancy makes him persist firmly in good against
difficulties arising from any other external hindrances. Hence
perseverance takes precedence of constancy as a part of fortitude,
because the difficulty arising from continuance of action is more
intrinsic to the act of virtue than that which arises from external
obstacles.
Reply to Objection 1: External obstacles to persistence in good are
especially those which cause sorrow. Now patience is about sorrow, as
stated above (Question 136, Article 1). Hence constancy
agrees with perseverance as to end: while it agrees with patience as to
those things which occasion difficulty. Now the end is of most
account: wherefore constancy pertains to perseverance rather than to
patience.
Reply to Objection 2: It is more difficult to persist in great
deeds: yet in little or ordinary deeds, it is difficult to persist for
any length of time, if not on account of the greatness of the deed
which magnificence considers, yet from its very continuance which
perseverance regards. Hence constancy may pertain to both.
Reply to Objection 3: Constancy pertains to perseverance in so far
as it has something in common with it: but it is not the same thing in
the point of their difference, as stated in the Article.
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