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Objection 1: It seems that favors should withheld from the
ungrateful. For it is written (Wis. 16:29): "The hope of
the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's ice." But this hope
would not melt away unless favors were withheld from him. Therefore
favors should be withheld from the ungrateful.
Objection 2: Further, no one should afford another an occasion of
committing sin. But the ungrateful in receiving a favor is given an
occasion of ingratitude. Therefore favors should not be bestowed on
the ungrateful.
Objection 3: Further, "By what things a man sinneth, by the same
also he is tormented" (Wis. 11:17). Now he that is
ungrateful when he receives a favor sins against the favor. Therefore
he should be deprived of the favor.
On the contrary, It is written (Lk. 6:35) that "the Highest
. . . is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil." Now we should
prove ourselves His children by imitating Him (Lk. 6:36).
Therefore we should not withhold favors from the ungrateful.
I answer that, There are two points to be considered with regard to
an ungrateful person. The first is what he deserves to suffer and thus
it is certain that he deserves to be deprived of our favor. The second
is, what ought his benefactor to do? For in the first place he should
not easily judge him to be ungrateful, since, as Seneca remarks (De
Benef. iii), "a man is often grateful although he repays not,"
because perhaps he has not the means or the opportunity of repaying.
Secondly, he should be inclined to turn his ungratefulness into
gratitude, and if he does not achieve this by being kind to him once,
he may by being so a second time. If, however, the more he repeats
his favors, the more ungrateful and evil the other becomes, he should
cease from bestowing his favors upon him.
Reply to Objection 1: The passage quoted speaks of what the
ungrateful man deserves to suffer.
Reply to Objection 2: He that bestows a favor on an ungrateful
person affords him an occasion not of sin but of gratitude and love.
And if the recipient takes therefrom an occasion of ingratitude, this
is not to be imputed to the bestower.
Reply to Objection 3: He that bestows a favor must not at once act
the part of a punisher of ingratitude, but rather that of a kindly
physician, by healing the ingratitude with repeated favors.
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