Part III, Chapter XXXII

Of Prohibited Games

The games of dice, cards, and the like, in which the gain depends principally on hazard, are not only dangerous recreations, as dancing, but are, of their own nature, bad and reprehensible; hence they have been forbidden by the laws, as well ecclesiastical as civil. You will say, perhaps, what great harm can there be in them? The evil consists in this, that the gain is not acquired at these games according to reason, but chance, which often falls upon him whose ability or industry deserves nothing; and such a proceeding is repugnant to reason. But you will say, it is according to the agreement of the parties. That serves indeed to show that the winner does no wrong to the loser, but it justifies neither the agreement nor the game; for the gain, which ought to be the recompense of industry, is made the reward of chance, which deserves no reward whatever, since it depends not at all upon us. Besides, although these games bear the name of recreations, yet they are by no means recreations, but tiresome occupations, for is it not tiresome to keep the mind incessantly occupied by an unremitted attention, and provoked by perpetual apprehensions and solicitudes? Can there be any attention more painful, gloomy, or melancholy, than that of gamesters? You must neither speak, laugh, nor cough, whilst they are at play, for fear of giving offence. In fact, there is no joy at play but when you win; and is not that joy iniquitous which cannot be felt but by the loss or displeasure of a friend or companion? Surely such satisfaction is infamous. For these three reasons this kind of gaming is prohibited.

St. Lewis, hearing that his brother, the Count of Anjou, and Monsieur Gautier do Nemours, were gaming, arose from his bed, to which he was continued by sickness, went staggering to their chamber, and taking the tables, the dice, and part of the money, threw them out of the window into the sea. The holy and chaste damsel, Sara, speaking in prayer to God, brings this argument of her innocency: “Thou knowest, O Lord, that I have never joined myself with them that play.” (Tobias 3)

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