Magnanimity
Objective: The student can define magnanimity and distinguish it from both pride and timidity.
Magnanimity comes from the Latin for 'great soul' (magnus + animus). It is the virtue of aiming at great and noble things, of being willing to undertake hard, worthy tasks for a good end. A magnanimous person does not waste their gifts on trifles or shrink from a worthy challenge out of fear; they stretch toward excellence. This week's Renaissance figures — a Brunelleschi daring to build the largest dome in the world, a Catherine of Siena daring to counsel popes — show magnanimity in action. But magnanimity has two opposite vices, one on each side. On one side is pusillanimity, 'small-souledness': cowardice and false humility that buries one's talents. On the other side is pride or vainglory: seeking greatness for selfish glory rather than for the good. True magnanimity is great ambition rightly ordered — pointed at genuine goods and ultimately at God, with the humility to know all our gifts come from him. Scripture's parable of the talents anchors it: the servants who boldly invest their master's gifts are praised, while the one who fearfully buries his is rebuked (Matthew 25:14-30). God gives each of us 'talents,' and he wants us to use them greatly and well.
Discussion Questions
- 1How is magnanimity different from pride? How is it different from cowardice?
- 2Which of your own talents are you tempted to 'bury' out of fear?
Name one talent you have and write one 'great and good' way you could use it this year rather than burying it.
Vocabulary
- magnanimity
- Greatness of soul; the virtue of aiming at noble things rightly ordered to the good.
- pusillanimity
- Smallness of soul; the vice of timidly refusing worthy challenges.
Magnanimity = 'great soul'; its vices are pride (too much) and pusillanimity (too little).