Moreover, sorrow for that which ought to be avoided is always useful, since it adds another motive for avoiding it.  Because the very evil is in itself a thing to be avoided:  while everyone avoids sorrow for its own sake, just as everyone seeks the good, and pleasure in the good.  Therefore just as pleasure in the good makes one seek the good more earnestly, so sorrow for evil makes one avoid evil more eagerly.

Reply Obj. 1:  This passage is to be taken as referring to excessive sorrow, which consumes the soul:  for such sorrow paralyzes the soul, and hinders it from shunning evil, as stated above (Q. 37, A. 2).

Reply Obj. 2:  Just as any object of choice becomes less eligible by reason of sorrow, so that which ought to be shunned is still more to be shunned by reason of sorrow:  and, in this respect, sorrow is useful.

Reply Obj. 3:  Sorrow caused by an action hinders that action:  but sorrow for the cessation of an action, makes one do it more earnestly. ________________________

FOURTH ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 39, Art. 4]

Whether Bodily Pain Is the Greatest Evil?

Objection 1:  It would seem that pain is the greatest evil.  Because “the worst is contrary to the best” (Ethic. viii, 10).  But a certain pleasure is the greatest good, viz. the pleasure of bliss.  Therefore a certain pain is the greatest evil.

Obj. 2:  Further, happiness is man’s greatest good, because it is his last end.  But man’s Happiness consists in his “having whatever he will, and in willing naught amiss,” as stated above (Q. 3, A. 4, Obj. 5; Q. 5, A. 8, Obj. 3).  Therefore man’s greatest good consists in the fulfilment of his will.  Now pain consists in something happening contrary to the will, as Augustine declares (De Civ.  Dei xiv, 6, 15).  Therefore pain is man’s greatest evil.

Obj. 3:  Further, Augustine argues thus (Soliloq. i, 12):  “We are composed of two parts, i.e. of a soul and a body, whereof the body is the inferior.  Now the sovereign good is the greatest good of the better part:  while the supreme evil is the greatest evil of the inferior part.  But wisdom is the greatest good of the soul; while the worst thing in the body is pain.  Therefore man’s greatest good is to be wise:  while his greatest evil is to suffer pain.”

On the contrary, Guilt is a greater evil than punishment, as was stated in the First Part (Q. 48, A. 6).  But sorrow or pain belongs to the punishment of sin, just as the enjoyment of changeable things is an evil of guilt.  For Augustine says (De Vera Relig. xii):  “What is pain of the soul, except for the soul to be deprived of that which it was wont to enjoy, or had hoped to enjoy?  And this is all that is called evil, i.e. sin, and the punishment of sin.”  Therefore sorrow or pain is not man’s greatest evil.