What is utterly forbidden if one is a trader

Chapter XVIII What is utterly forbidden if one is a traders Many a thing tolerated among people of other trades are forbidden for traders because it contradicts the chastity, reliability, resolution and virtue of a proper trader. These qualities must always be not only an inherent part of a trader’s personality but also the traits his appearance and manners must constantly display as his business depends on the trust people of all sorts hopefully have in him. Clearly, it could be inferred that traders are a treasure trove of all human virtues. T o preserve such a character, they must, and for a good reason, maintain an almost monastic discipline which can indeed be perceived as nothing less if it is truly adhered to and respected. Therefore, it should be no surprise that we require the trader to be honest and moderate and that he is not allowed to do certain things or participate in certain activities that are, in some circumstances, generally tolerated. First of all, the trader is forbidden to engage in any games in which luck determines the outcome, such as playing card games, gambling, etc. This does not apply to competitions where one’s physical might is tried, as in playing ball, throwing a javelin, shooting arrows, running, wrestling, etc., as these activities are aimed at exercising one’s body and personal physical strength. It is especially forbidden to grow accustomed to playing such games out of mere avarice. Such a habit would not only be in contradiction to an honest trader’s life but, moreover, it is a

mortal sin according to William, who claims such games are the proof of avarice, and avarice is a deadly sin. Moreover, playing such games often involves breaking one’s oath, lying, swearing, deceiving, extorting, etc. Since such activities are nothing but a reckless hazard, a wealthy trader might one day wake up as a poor wretch since such games are usually organized in the evenings. A player with a clean conscience has never been found, so do not expect to encounter any of such quality. Do not forget that you are obligated to return whatever it is you gained and to do so taking some differences into consideration, as St. Thomas specifies (2.2, question 32). If you won playing with people such as the reckless, prodigals, people under 25 years of age, protégés, lunatics, the deaf, the blind, the dumb, the chronically ill, slaves, monks, sons not yet emancipated, all those who clearly did not misappropriate the stake and who did not acquire any assets in the military service, or women who do not own any lawful possessions of their own, or managers of church estates, you are obligated to return the winnings, not to them but to their custodians, curators, masters, monasteries and fathers. If the person who invited you to the game loses, you are also obligated to return the gain, but not to him, for he is unworthy of it, but instead distribute the money to the poor. This law can be found in the Justinian code under the heading “gambling” , in The Digest, and in the last line of the chapter Gamblers. On the other hand, one who willingly engages in a game with such kind must return the gain to his adversary. This is the claim of Raymond and it is said so in The Digest and the Nomocanon. Second, a trader must never allow himself to drink or eat in

excess. By this I do not mean those who drink wine without considering the quantity they can handle, as those in the Book of Genesis in the story of Noah, but rather those who enjoy wine immensely due to intemperance and bad habit. This vice is more revolting if indulged in by a trader than somebody else because a trader’s persona is more publicly exposed and often he does not have the option of staying at home until he is sober again and in this way avoid any interaction with other people. Other men can discretely withdraw and sleep off their sinful state and nobody will witness their disgraceful condition. The trader is forced to appear before the world on a regular basis to be in the position to seize all the business opportunities he finds interesting. This is why he is unable to conceal his state, should he find himself in such trouble, and to make matters worse, he is in greater risk of making numerous mistakes with unforeseeable consequences. Thus, excessive drinking must be avoided in order to avoid disgrace, for it is not only potentially damaging for one’s reputation, but among other common consequences, a man becomes lazy, spiritually lame, his hands tremble and his head aches, his tongue gets twisted and his speech becomes ungainly, he loses his sight and fertility and becomes prone to various illnesses such as colic, stomach diseases, fevers, aching bones and others causing great discomfort, especially to a trader. This is what Paul speaks of: “Do not drink too much of the unchaste wine.” Mind you, St. Thomas speaks of five kinds of gluttony: first, when one wants to eat before even feeling hungry; second, when one eats one meal after another; third, when one craves expensive

food; fourth, when one desires great quantities of food; and fifth, when one is intemperate in his eating habits and so eats and drinks excessively and in an unorderly manner. Augustin teaches that everything needs to be perceived in its relation to place, time and the person involved, and hence we must not rashly pass judgment. There are wise men who eat expensive food without being gluttonous or greedy, and on the other hand, ignorant people who in the most sinful and passionate greed devour the most meagre morsels of food. It is more proper to have a taste for fish, as our Lord did, than lentil as Ezav, or barley like horses do (paragraph 41, Everyman). Therefore, the trader should be moderate in his eating and drinking habits for the above mentioned reasons. Food must be valued and appreciated only as nourishment, as Boetius says: “Nature is gratified with minor and minimal things.” He should guard against becoming like those people whose “God is their belly” , as St. Paul says. A trader should not attend too many feasts for feasts can result as the previously described. Third, a trader is forbidden to serve as somebody’s advocate in lawsuits or in seeking rightful cause for the suit. If we already stated that a trader should not be involved in legal matters for his own sake, clearly this more strongly applies if somebody else’s affairs are in question. Fourth, a trader must never be found in the company of criminals and infamous men as such kinds are not only often bad influences that can lead others astray as to become as malicious, but they can also be the cause of other people’s misfortune in

many ways. Fifth, a trader must never commit himself to alchemy. His art is to be based on seeking constant and reliable ventures and information, and ignore those that can inflict harm on both him and his business. Sixth, a trader is forbidden to take part in chivalrous equestrian games because that would be a reckless act which is financially exhausting and distracts him from his purpose. This can of course be dangerous because a trader’s mind must be sober and not contaminated with thoughts of trivial matters that serve him no good. Seventh, a trader must never be engaged in any activity that involves smuggling, neither in his country nor abroad. Smuggling has caused much evil on many occasions and hence a widespread saying warns that a smuggler can never know whether he wins or loses. Eighth, a trader must never deceive his customer in terms of the weight and size of the merchandise, as well as sell one commodity as some other because this is no less detestable than stealing. Ninth, a trader should not have too many shallow or poor acquaintances or, generally those who might do him harm. He should not befriend men to the extent that it would be rude of him to sometimes decline their request for a favor or a service. T enth, he must never be improvident. The truth is that thriftiness is more commonly found among noblemen and aristocracy than extravagance is. As the latter is a quality very often attributed to traders, it is even more strongly forbidden than thrift. Thus,

a trader must never be improvident for it is utterly contradictory to his purpose and trade, i.e. amass wealth. Improvidence has devastating effects on a trader and the fortune he is aspiring to make. W e have discussed that which is forbidden to the trader at any time and in any situation. In addition, there are things that occasionally must be avoided but sometimes are allowed. The following matter for discussion is balancing and time.