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Objection 1: It seems that a man is bound to repay a favor at once.
For we are bound to restore at once what we owe, unless the term be
fixed. Now there is no term prescribed for the repayment of favors,
and yet this repayment is a duty, as stated above (Article 3).
Therefore a man is bound to repay a favor at once.
Objection 2: Further, a good action would seem to be all the more
praiseworthy according as it is done with greater earnestness. Now
earnestness seems to make a man do his duty without any delay.
Therefore it is apparently more praiseworthy to repay a favor at once.
Objection 3: Further, Seneca says (De Benef. ii) that "it is
proper to a benefactor to act freely and quickly." Now repayment
ought to equal the favor received. Therefore it should be done at
once.
On the contrary, Seneca says (De Benef. iv): "He that hastens
to repay, is animated with a sense, not of gratitude but of
indebtedness."
I answer that, Just as in conferring a favor two things are to be
considered, namely, the affection of the heart and the gift, so also
must these things be considered in repaying the favor. As regards the
affection of the heart, repayment should be made at once, wherefore
Seneca says (De Benef. ii): "Do you wish to repay a favor?
Receive it graciously." As regards the gift, one ought to wait
until such a time as will be convenient to the benefactor. In fact,
if instead of choosing a convenient time, one wished to repay at once,
favor for favor, it would not seem to be a virtuous, but a constrained
repayment. For, as Seneca observes (De Benef. iv), "he that
wishes to repay too soon, is an unwilling debtor, and an unwilling
debtor is ungrateful."
Reply to Objection 1: A legal debt must be paid at once, else the
equality of justice would not be preserved, if one kept another's
property without his consent. But a moral debt depends on the equity
of the debtor: and therefore it should be repaid in due time according
as the rectitude of virtue demands.
Reply to Objection 2: Earnestness of the will is not virtuous
unless it be regulated by reason; wherefore it is not praiseworthy to
forestall the proper time through earnestness.
Reply to Objection 3: Favors also should be conferred at a
convenient time and one should no longer delay when the convenient time
comes; and the same is to be observed in repaying favors.
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