Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Aquinas for May XV

Manifestum est quod dux exercitus strenuis militibus non parcit a periculis aut laboribus, sed secundum quod militiae ratio exigit interdum eos et maioribus laboribus et maioribus periculis exponit, sed post victoriam adeptam magis strenuos plus honorat; sic et paterfamilias melioribus mercennariis maiores labores committit, sed in tempore mercedis eis maiora munera largitur; unde nec divina providentia hoc habet ut bonos magis ab adversitatibus et vitae praesentis laboribus eximat, sed quod in fine eos magis remuneret.

"It is clear that the general does not spare the strong soldiers from labor and danger, but the notion of an army requires that he sometimes expose them both to great labors and great dangers, but after victory is achieved the strong are honored more; so also the head of household commits the great labors to the better hired hands, but on payday gives them a greater reward; wherefore neither does divine providence have it so that those who are more good are freed from the adversity and labor of the present life, but rather that in the end they are better rewarded."

Super Iob cap. 7