Reply Obj. 3:  When there are two causes inclining to contrary movements, each hinders the other; yet the one which is stronger and more persistent, prevails in the end.  Now when a man is made sorrowful by those things in which he took pleasure in common with a deceased or absent friend, there are two causes producing contrary movements.  For the thought of the friend’s death or absence, inclines him to sorrow:  whereas the present good inclines him to pleasure.  Consequently each is modified by the other.  And yet, since the perception of the present moves more strongly than the memory of the past, and since love of self is more persistent than love of another; hence it is that, in the end, the pleasure drives out the sorrow.  Wherefore a little further on (Confess. iv, 8) Augustine says that his “sorrow gave way to his former pleasures.” ________________________

SECOND ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 38, Art. 2]

Whether Pain or Sorrow Is Assuaged by Tears?

Objection 1:  It would seem that tears do not assuage sorrow.  Because no effect diminishes its cause.  But tears or groans are an effect of sorrow.  Therefore they do not diminish sorrow.

Obj. 2:  Further, just as tears or groans are an effect of sorrow, so laughter is an effect of joy.  But laughter does not lessen joy.  Therefore tears do not lessen sorrow.

Obj. 3:  Further, when we weep, the evil that saddens us is present to the imagination.  But the image of that which saddens us increases sorrow, just as the image of a pleasant thing adds to joy.  Therefore it seems that tears do not assuage sorrow.

On the contrary, Augustine says (Confess. iv, 7) that when he mourned the death of his friend, “in groans and in tears alone did he find some little refreshment.”

I answer that, Tears and groans naturally assuage sorrow:  and this for two reasons.  First, because a hurtful thing hurts yet more if we keep it shut up, because the soul is more intent on it:  whereas if it be allowed to escape, the soul’s intention is dispersed as it were on outward things, so that the inward sorrow is lessened.  This is why men, burdened with sorrow, make outward show of their sorrow, by tears or groans or even by words, their sorrow is assuaged.  Secondly, because an action, that befits a man according to his actual disposition, is always pleasant to him.  Now tears and groans are actions befitting a man who is in sorrow or pain; and consequently they become pleasant to him.  Since then, as stated above (A. 1), every pleasure assuages sorrow or pain somewhat, it follows that sorrow is assuaged by weeping and groans.

Reply Obj. 1:  This relation of the cause to effect is opposed to the relation existing between the cause of sorrow and the sorrowing man.  For every effect is suited to its cause, and consequently is pleasant to it; but the cause of sorrow is disagreeable to him that sorrows.  Hence the effect of sorrow is not related to him that sorrows in the same way as the cause of sorrow is.  For this reason sorrow is assuaged by its effect, on account of the aforesaid contrariety.