Patience vs greatest virtue

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Often appears with: theological virtues · justice as a virtue · fortitude and temperance obstacles · courage and cowardice · bearing hardships

Usually: argument (1) · detachment (1)

Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) primary

Thomas, Aquinas, Saint · c. 1271–1273 (Part II-II written within this period)
PART II-II ("Secunda Secundae") > i.e. proportionate, "expenditure." Now expenditure is the outlay of a sum of money; and a man may be hindered from making that outlay if he love money too much. Hence the matter of magnificence may be said to be both this expenditure itself, which the magnificent man uses to produce a great work, and also the very money which he employs in going to great expense, and as well as the love of money, which love the magnificent man moderates, lest he be hindered from spending much. (6/204)

Thomas Aquinas argues that patience, though praised for bearing hardships, is not the greatest virtue because it checks obstacles less than the theological virtues, prudence, justice, fortitude, or temperance do.

Whether Patience Is the Greatest of the Virtues? Objection 1: It seems that patience is the greatest of the virtues. For in every genus that which is perfect is the greatest. Now "patience hath a perfect work" (James 1:4). Therefore patience is the greatest of the virtues. Obj. 2: Further, all the virtues are directed to the good of the soul. Now this seems to belong chiefly to patience; for it is written (Luke 21:…