The Complex Relationship Between Ambition And Deadly Sins

The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a grouping classification of major vices within the teachings of Christianity. The seven deadly sins are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. Each of these sins can be seen as dispositions toward sin and separation from God.

Pride is considered the original and worst of the seven deadly sins. It is the opposite of humility and is often described as the anti-God state, where the ego and the self are directly opposed to God.

Greed, also known as avarice, is an excessive pursuit of material goods. It is associated with the desire for wealth and power.

Lust, or luxuria, is the desire for pleasure, particularly sexual pleasure.

Envy is the desire to have what others possess, often coupled with hatred for their success and the desire to ruin them.

Gluttony is an excessive and ongoing consumption of food or drink.

Wrath is strong anger and hate toward another person.

Sloth is excessive laziness or the failure to act and utilize one's talents.

Ambition can be associated with greed, as it often involves the desire for wealth, power, or success. However, ambition can also be driven by pride, as it involves placing oneself and one's goals above others.

Pride: the original and worst of the seven deadly sins, pride is the opposite of humility and involves placing oneself above God and all others

Pride is considered the original and worst of the seven deadly sins. It is the opposite of humility and involves placing oneself above God and all others.

Pride is often referred to as the sin from which all others arise. It is the deadliest of all, the root of all evil, and the beginning of sin. It is the sin that corrupted the Archangel Lucifer, as it involves placing yourself above God and believing your goals and aims are more important than all others.

Pride is an excessive love of one's own excellence. It is a deadly sin, believed to generate other sins and further immoral behaviour. It is countered by the heavenly virtue of humility.

Pride is understood to sever the spirit from God and His life-and-grace-giving Presence. It is the sin that prevents the sinner from repentance, as they are too proud to admit they were wrong.

In the Bible, the "pride that blinds" causes foolish actions against common sense. In political analysis, "hubris" is used to describe how leaders with great power become more and more irrationally self-confident and contemptuous of advice, leading them to act impulsively.

In Dante's Purgatorio of The Divine Comedy, pride is considered the first of the three worst sins, due to its nature as perverted love aimed at harming others.

Wrath: defined as uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage, and even hatred

Wrath: The Uncontrolled Feelings of Anger, Rage, and Hatred

Wrath is one of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology, defined as a strong feeling of hatred or resentment with a desire for vengeance. It is considered a deadly sin as it generates other sins and further immoral behaviour.

Wrath is often described as a heated, pent-up explosion of rage, which aims at retaliation and punishment. It is a loss of control, where a person gives in to their emotions and is harmed along with those around them.

In the Bible, wrath and anger are frequently warned against in scripture. For example, Psalm 37:8 advises: "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath...it leads only to evil." In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus alludes to the dangers of wrath while admonishing one of his disciples for brandishing a sword against his captors: "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Wrath is distinct from the neutral act of anger, which becomes a sin when it is directed against an innocent person, when it is unduly strong or long-lasting, or when it desires excessive punishment.

Wrath is often associated with bulls, bears, crocodiles, and the colour red.

Overcoming Wrath

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the heavenly virtue that counters wrath is patience.

To overcome wrath, it is important to pause and reflect on what is causing these feelings. It is also crucial to remember that while we can't control other people's actions, we do get to choose how we respond.

As Romans 12:17-21 states:

> "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Envy: an insatiable desire that can be described as a sad or resentful covetousness towards the traits or possessions of someone else

Envy is one of the seven deadly sins in Roman Catholic theology. It is characterised by an insatiable and covetous desire for the possessions or traits of someone else. This desire is often accompanied by sadness or resentment.

Envy is associated with the colour green and the punishment for committing this sin is to have one's eyes sewn shut with wire. Envy is also said to be the motivation behind Cain murdering his brother Abel in the Bible.

Envy is a feeling of discontent or resentment based on what someone else has. It is a strong desire to have the same things as someone else. This desire could be for a quality, a possession, or an attribute that belongs to someone else. Envy can also be related to the Ten Commandments, specifically, "Neither shall you covet... anything that belongs to your neighbour."

Envy can be differentiated from jealousy and covetousness. Jealousy is an emotion that is brought on by feeling resentment against someone because of their success, advantage, etc. Covetousness, on the other hand, is to desire something wrongfully without any regard for the rights of others.

Envy is considered one of the most powerful causes of unhappiness. It not only makes the envious person unhappy but also gives them the urge to inflict pain upon others. Envy can also be categorised as malicious or benign. Malicious envy wants someone to be ruined because of what they have, while benign envy is a positive motivational force that aspires to be as good as the other person.

Envy is a sin that severs a man from his neighbour. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the struggle aroused by envy has three stages:

• During the first stage, the envious person attempts to lower another's reputation.
• In the middle stage, the envious person receives either "joy at another's misfortune" if they succeed in defaming the other person or "grief at another's prosperity" if they fail.
• The third stage is hatred because "sorrow causes hatred".

Greed: an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs, especially with respect to material wealth

Greed, or avarice, is one of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology. It is defined as an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs, especially with respect to material wealth.

Greed is often associated with the hoarding of money but can also refer to the pointless spending of money. In the third century AD, Christians used the acronym ROMA as a veiled insult against the Empire: Radix Omnium Malorum Avaritia, or 'the root of all evil is greed'.

Greed is usually associated with foxes, corvids, or frogs and the colour gold. The punishment in Hell for committing this sin, according to some, is to be boiled alive in oil.

In Dante's Inferno, those guilty of the sin of greed are punished in the fourth circle of Hell, forced to push heavy weights for eternity.

Gluttony: the overindulgence and overconsumption of anything to the point of waste

When considering which of the seven deadly sins ambition could be associated with, one might argue that it aligns closely with the sin of gluttony. Gluttony is often understood as simply overindulgence in food and drink, but it can be applied to a broader context of overconsumption and excess to the point of waste.

In the pursuit of ambition, there is a risk of falling into the trap of gluttony. Ambition can drive individuals to strive for success, power, wealth, or fame, and this drive can lead to overindulgence and overconsumption in various forms. For example, an ambitious person may work excessively long hours, neglecting their health and personal relationships in the process. They may become so focused on their career goals that they sacrifice other aspects of their life, leading to an imbalanced and unhealthy lifestyle.

Similarly, ambition can manifest as a never-ending pursuit of more. An ambitious person may always be seeking the next promotion, the bigger house, or the more prestigious award. This constant desire for more can lead to overconsumption and a disregard for the value of moderation. They may accumulate wealth or possessions beyond what is necessary or reasonable, simply for the sake of having more. This type of behavior can contribute to a culture of excess and wastefulness, where the pursuit of success becomes an end in itself, rather than a means to a fulfilling life.

Furthermore, the ambitious person's single-minded pursuit of their goals can lead to a disregard for the well-being of others. In their quest for success, they may step on others or exploit resources without considering the consequences. This selfish aspect of ambition aligns with the selfish nature of gluttony, where the satisfaction of one's own desires takes precedence over the needs of others.

To avoid the sin of gluttony in ambition, it is important to cultivate a sense of moderation and balance. Ambition can be a powerful motivator, but it must be tempered with an awareness of one's own limits and the impact of one's actions on others. By striving for success while also prioritizing health, relationships, and the well-being of those around us, we can pursue our goals in a way that is sustainable and ethical.

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