I answer that, Man’s happiness cannot consist in human fame or glory.  For glory consists “in being well known and praised,” as Ambrose [Augustine, Contra Maxim.  Arian. ii, 13] says.  Now the thing known is related to human knowledge otherwise than to God’s knowledge:  for human knowledge is caused by the things known, whereas God’s knowledge is the cause of the things known.  Wherefore the perfection of human good, which is called happiness, cannot be caused by human knowledge:  but rather human knowledge of another’s happiness proceeds from, and, in a fashion, is caused by, human happiness itself, inchoate or perfect.  Consequently man’s happiness cannot consist in fame or glory.  On the other hand, man’s good depends on God’s knowledge as its cause.  And therefore man’s beatitude depends, as on its cause, on the glory which man has with God; according to Ps. 90:15, 16:  “I will deliver him, and I will glorify him; I will fill him with length of days, and I will show him my salvation.”

Furthermore, we must observe that human knowledge often fails, especially in contingent singulars, such as are human acts.  For this reason human glory is frequently deceptive.  But since God cannot be deceived, His glory is always true; hence it is written (2 Cor. 10:18):  “He . . . is approved . . . whom God commendeth.”

Reply Obj. 1:  The Apostle speaks, then, not of the glory which is with men, but of the glory which is from God, with His Angels.  Hence it is written (Mk. 8:38):  “The Son of Man shall confess him in the glory of His Father, before His angels” [St. Thomas joins Mk. 8:38 with Luke 12:8 owing to a possible variant in his text, or to the fact that he was quoting from memory].

Reply Obj. 2:  A man’s good which, through fame or glory, is in the knowledge of many, if this knowledge be true, must needs be derived from good existing in the man himself:  and hence it presupposes perfect or inchoate happiness.  But if the knowledge be false, it does not harmonize with the thing:  and thus good does not exist in him who is looked upon as famous.  Hence it follows that fame can nowise make man happy.

Reply Obj. 3:  Fame has no stability; in fact, it is easily ruined by false report.  And if sometimes it endures, this is by accident.  But happiness endures of itself, and for ever. ________________________

FOURTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 2, Art. 4]

Whether Man’s Happiness Consists in Power?

Objection 1:  It would seem that happiness consists in power.  For all things desire to become like to God, as to their last end and first beginning.  But men who are in power, seem, on account of the similarity of power, to be most like to God:  hence also in Scripture they are called “gods” (Ex. 22:28), “Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods.”  Therefore happiness consists in power.

Obj. 2:  Further, happiness is the perfect good.  But the highest perfection for man is to be able to rule others; which belongs to those who are in power.  Therefore happiness consists in power.