For example, he should share them willingly when others are in need. Charge the rich of this world not to be proud, or to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides all things in abundance for our enjoyment. Let them do good and be rich in good works, giving readily, sharing with others, and thus providing for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, in order that they may lay hold on the true life. . We can draw out the following conclusions. First, private property is a relative, not an absolute right.
Property is for the sake of man's needs.
Thomas does not approve of ownership for the sake of ownership. Second, since private property is a good thing, it is good that all, or many, own property. If part of the justification of private ownership is that then men are contented, and so society is peaceful, we cannot extend his arguments for the legitimacy of property to cases where a few own everything to the detriment of the many. Both in the writings of Aristotle and in the Sacred Scripture we can find the idea that it is hurtful to society when all the land is in the hands of a few. Aristotle wrote with approval of Greek lawmakers who limited the size of estates in various ways.