Sloth

Sloth is sluggishness of mind which neglects to begin good. It is a kind of oppressive sorrow (for what is, in itself,good) which so weighs on a person’s mind that he chooses to do nothing. Sloth is spiritual laziness. It is a sin, and a capital sin.

Sloth is sorrow for spiritual good. It is a special vice opposed to charity. For charity rejoices in the good which sloth finds the occasion for sadness.

Sloth is, therefore, by its nature, contrary to charity, and, by that fact, it is a mortal sin in its genus or general essential kind. Yet, like all sins that are mortal in their genus, sloth is not mortal in fact, unless it be fully accepted bythe deliberate will.

Sloth is rightly listed among the capital (or source)sins-from which many other sins flow.