What is Avarice? – Unraveling the Deadly Sins – Blog

One of the seven deadly sins most present in our daily lives. understand better what is avarice: it is linked to money and attachment to material goods. Many people focus on getting rich in life. Not buying a house or taking a trip, but making a fortune.

What is avarice and what are its characteristics?

The characteristics of avarice are: greed, attachment to money, fear that it will be lacking in the future, fear of self-interested people, among others.

Some misers out there went through deprivation in childhood, hence the fear that it will all end. This is the case of those who have gone through major financial crises or wars. When avarice gets out of control, a person can make mistakes, lie, be false, withhold information and be suspicious of everyone. All this to gather more material goods for you.

This is the case of politicians, for example, or businessmen who earn money by scamming people and companies. You must have seen some stories like this, haven’t you? The typical phrase of the miser is: “the more I have, the more I want to have”.

What is avarice and what can it lead to?

Greed can lead to others of the Seven Deadly Sins, such as pride. Those who accumulate a lot of money end up feeling better than others, mainly because our society places a high value on financial success, making us believe that having is the same as being.

This is one of the issues that breeds avarice. Nowadays there is such a lack of contact with our inner world that we believe that happiness is outside, in what we can accumulate, buy and show to others. But as we gather things and money, we realize that the internal emptiness remains and instead of changing our attitudes, we seek comfort externally, falling into a vicious cycle of consumerism.

To control avarice it is necessary to do exactly the reverse process. Looking inside and realizing what really makes you happy, touches your heart and would be irreplaceable in your life. You will surely find that they are things that have no value.

In the 13th century, Saint Thomas Aquinas published the Summa Theologica, where he details the 7 Deadly Sins. However, it is no use having only punishments, there must also be rules or inspirations so that people do not commit such sins. Based on the epic poem psychomachi (Battle of Souls), written by Prudêncio, the seven virtues emerged.

The antidote to avarice is charity. Let’s think about the next, not only in the matter of material donation, but also in the spiritual one. Dedicate time a week to take care of those in need, our grandparents, the elderly in general, children and animals. Give back to others with what you have most precious.

The 7 Deadly Sins in Literature – What is Avarice

A character that represents this capital sin well is Uncle Scrooge, remember him? He even kept the first coin he ever won inside a glass bell jar as a trophy.

Ariel Dorfman’s Therapy book was written inspired by this very sin. In it, the Chilean author tells the story of Graham Blake, a businessman who is very successful, but gets lost in the midst of his neuroses.

Now that you’ve discovered what Avarice is and know how to neutralize it, see also.