PUSILLANIMITY. — Etymologically (animus pusillus), the term denotes a weak mind, a small spirit; it is sometimes used in a morally good sense (Is. 35:4; I Thess. 5:14), but generally it is used in a morally defective sense (Ps. 54:9; Eccli. 7:9; Lc. 12:28; Col. 3:21), and may be defined as: the disposition of spirit of one who withdraws from the duty and sacrifice of undertaking or pursuing something because he judges it to be beyond the strength at his disposal, whereas it is not.
The Gospel portrays the pusillanimous person very well in the servant to whom his master, on the point of embarking on a long journey, entrusts a talent to put to work; the servant, out of fear of the risk, carefully hides it; and upon his return rejoices that he can restore it intact to his master, who nevertheless responds with an open and stern condemnation (Mt. 25:14-26).
Concerning the moral gravity of this defect, it must be said that it is generally only venial, unless it prevents the fulfillment of a grave duty and leads to the omission of the means necessary for eternal salvation. Thus public authorities who, through pusillanimity, fail to correct defects or serious public scandals, out of apprehension that they will not succeed, or that their efforts will be useless and harmful; the same applies to parents, unless this involves a prudent postponement intended to prevent greater evils or to ensure success by intervening at a more opportune time (v. TOLLERANZA). One who, in a time of persecution or in places of religious intolerance, through an exaggerated apprehension that he does not possess the moral strength necessary to profess the faith externally, when duty requires it, conceals it or subscribes to illicit oaths, sins gravely (cf. cann. 2205, 2229). One who, tormented by prolonged and serious temptations, or perhaps faced with more or less frequent falls, gives way without reacting or using the means at his disposal to overcome the temptations, convinced that there is now nothing more to be done, sins gravely.
Pusillanimity causes serious harm to individuals and society. The individual is morally paralyzed in good works, induced to evil works by indulging in human respect, and allowing the wicked to take courage. The strength of the wicked is the pusillanimity of those who believe themselves good.
The causes of pusillanimity are either moral in nature or, more often, psychopathic in nature (fixed ideas, a lymphatic or timid temperament, melancholy, etc.); it is evident that in this second case the individual must be judged responsible for any omissions by taking into account the principles relating to these states of mind, and must be treated with the necessary care by those close to him, with the precaution of not exposing him to trials beyond his abilities. In its moral form, the remedies are the constant formation of character, the conviction of the baseness of human respect, and consideration of magnanimous examples.