Prodigality

Prodigality is an evil by excess at the points wherecovetousness sins by defect, and vice versa. Thus, in interior desire for riches, covetousness is excessive, prodigality is defective. But in using riches, covetousness is defective, andprodigality is excessive. For prodigality is the careless and foolish squandering of riches.

Prodigality is manifestly an evil, for it conflicts with right reason. Aristotle (Ethic. i v 1) says ofthe prodigal man that his giving is not good, nor for a good purpose, nor is it regulated by reason.

But prodigality, in itself, is not so grievous a fault ascovetousness, because: (a) it is less unreasonable; (b) it does some good, whereas covetousness does none; (c) it is an evil more readily cured than covetousness is.