St. Thomas Aquinas, on Aristotle's Love and Friendship, Ethics, Books VIII-IX

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xvi, 132 pages 21 cm Translated from the author's [*In decem libros Ethicorum Aristotelis ad Nicomachum expositio*](https://isidore.co/aquinas/Ethics8.htm) "A translation of the Latin text of Aristotle which St. Thomas employed precedes each chapter." cf. Aristotle's [*Magna Moralia*](https://isidore.co/calibre/#panel=book_details&book_id=6817) bk. 2 ch. 11 on friendship (St. Thomas didn't commentate the *Magna Moralia*.)* * *> goodwill ( *benevolentia* ) is called the beginning of friendship, as pleasure at the sight of a woman is the beginning of love for her. For no one begins to love a woman unless he has been first delighted by her beauty. However, when a man is pleased at the sight of a woman’s form he does not immediately love her. But it is sign of complete love that he desires her, as if he feels her absence keenly and longs for her presence when she is absent. The same is true of friendship and goodwill, for it is impossible for people to be friends unless they have goodwill first.—St. Thomas, [*Sententia Ethic.* lib. 9 (properties of friendship) l. 5 (goodwill)](https://isidore.co/aquinas/Ethics9.htm#5) n. 5How does friendship begin? Benevolence / complacency in the one to be loved. Being complacent in people is hard ∵ we have to overlook their flaws and sins.What is the purpose of beauty? To elicit love.How to increase in the virtue of *benevolentia*? (St. Thomas says benificence is an external act of charity, and benevolence is an internal act of charity: [II-II q. 31 a. 4](https://isidore.co/aquinas/summa/SS/SS031.html#SSQ31A1THEP1) s.c.)Perhaps [clemency/meekness](https://isidore.co/aquinas/summa/SS/SS157.html) (Matt 11:29 "Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls.")St. Thomas, in the next ¶, shows that an increase in the habit of *benevolentia* makes friendships arise:> goodwill ( *benevolentia* ) is a kind of lazy friendship because it is not joined with any friendly activity. But when a person continues a long time in goodwill and becomes used to wishing well to anyone, his soul is strengthened in willing good, so that his will is not idle but active. In this way friendship arises.