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Objection 1: It would seem that youth and drunkenness are not causes
of hope. Because hope implies certainty and steadiness; so much so
that it is compared to an anchor (Heb. 6:19). But young men
and drunkards are wanting in steadiness; since their minds are easily
changed. Therefore youth and drunkenness are not causes of hope.
Objection 2: Further, as stated above (Article 5), the cause
of hope is chiefly whatever increases one's power. But youth and
drunkenness are united to weakness. Therefore they are not causes of
hope.
Objection 3: Further, experience is a cause of hope, as stated
above (Article 5). But youth lacks experience. Therefore it is
not a cause of hope.
On the contrary, The Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 8) that
"drunken men are hopeful": and (Rhet. ii, 12) that "the young
are full of hope."
I answer that, Youth is a cause of hope for three reasons, as the
Philosopher states in Rhet. ii, 12: and these three reasons may
be gathered from the three conditions of the good which is the object of
hope---namely, that it is future, arduous and possible, as stated
above (Article 1). For youth has much of the future before it,
and little of the past: and therefore since memory is of the past, and
hope of the future, it has little to remember and lives very much in
hope. Again, youths, on account of the heat of their nature, are
full of spirit; so that their heart expands: and it is owing to the
heart being expanded that one tends to that which is arduous; wherefore
youths are spirited and hopeful. Likewise they who have not suffered
defeat, nor had experience of obstacles to their efforts, are prone to
count a thing possible to them. Wherefore youths, through
inexperience of obstacles and of their own shortcomings, easily count a
thing possible; and consequently are of good hope. Two of these
causes are also in those who are in drink---viz. heat and high
spirits, on account of wine, and heedlessness of dangers and
shortcomings. For the same reason all foolish and thoughtless persons
attempt everything and are full of hope.
Reply to Objection 1: Although youths and men in drink lack
steadiness in reality, yet they are steady in their own estimation,
for they think that they will steadily obtain that which they hope for.
In like manner, in reply to the Second Objection, we must observe
that young people and men in drink are indeed unsteady in reality:
but, in their own estimation, they are capable, for they know not
their shortcomings.
Reply to Objection 3: Not only experience, but also lack of
experience, is, in some way, a cause of hope, as explained above
(Article 5, ad 3).
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