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Objection 1: It would seem that sobriety is more requisite in
persons of greater standing. For old age gives a man a certain
standing; wherefore honor and reverence are due to the old, according
to Lev. 19:32, "Rise up before the hoary head, and honor the
person of the aged man." Now the Apostle declares that old men
especially should be exhorted to sobriety, according to Titus 2:2,
"That the aged man be sober." Therefore sobriety is most requisite
in persons of standing.
Objection 2: Further, a bishop has the highest degree in the
Church: and the Apostle commands him to be sober, according to 1
Tim. 3:2, "It behooveth . . . a bishop to be blameless, the
husband of one wife, sober, prudent," etc. Therefore sobriety is
chiefly required in persons of high standing.
Objection 3: Further, sobriety denotes abstinence from wine. Now
wine is forbidden to kings, who hold the highest place in human
affairs: while it is allowed to those who are in a state of
affliction, according to Prov. 31:4, "Give not wine to
kings," and further on (Prov. 31:6), "Give strong drink to
them that are sad, and wine to them that are grieved in mind."
Therefore sobriety is more requisite in persons of standing.
On the contrary, The Apostle says (1 Tim. 3:11): "The
women in like manner, chaste . . . sober," etc., and (Titus
2:6) "Young men in like manner exhort that they be sober."
I answer that, Virtue includes relationship to two things, to the
contrary vices which it removes, and to the end to which it leads.
Accordingly a particular virtue is more requisite in certain persons
for two reasons. First, because they are more prone to the
concupiscences which need to be restrained by virtue, and to the vices
which are removed by virtue. In this respect, sobriety is most
requisite in the young and in women, because concupiscence of pleasure
thrives in the young on account of the heat of youth, while in women
there is not sufficient strength of mind to resist concupiscence.
Hence, according to Valerius Maximus [Dict. Fact. Memor. ii,
1] among the ancient Romans women drank no wine. Secondly,
sobriety is more requisite in certain persons, as being more necessary
for the operations proper to them. Now immoderate use of wine is a
notable obstacle to the use of reason: wherefore sobriety is specially
prescribed to the old, in whom reason should be vigorous in instructing
others: to bishops and all ministers of the Church, who should fulfil
their spiritual duties with a devout mind; and to kings, who should
rule their subjects with wisdom.
This suffices for the Replies to the Objections.
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