1 As I am going to demonstrate a most philosophical proposition, namely, that religious reasoning is absolute master of the emotions. I would willingly advise you to give the utmost heed to philosophy. (WEB) 2 For reason is necessary to everyone as a step to science. In addition, it embraces the praise of self-control, the highest virtue. (WEB) 3 If, then, reasoning appears to hold the mastery over the emotions which stand in the way of temperance, such as gluttony and lust, (WEB) 4 it surely also and manifestly rules over the affections which are contrary to justice, such as malice, and of those which are hindrances to courage, such as wrath, pain, and fear. (WEB) 5 Perhaps some may ask, “How is it, then, that reasoning, if it rules the emotions, isn’t also master of forgetfulness and ignorance?” They attempt a ridiculous argument. (WEB) 6 For reasoning does not rule over its own emotions, but over those that are contrary to justice, courage, temperance, and self-control; and yet over these, so as to withstand, without destroying them. (WEB) 7 I might prove to you from many other considerations, that religious reasoning is sole master of the emotions; (WEB) 8 but I will prove it with the greatest force from the fortitude of Eleazar, and seven kindred, and their mother, who suffered death in defense of virtue. (WEB) 9 For all these, treating pains with contempt even to death, by this contempt, demonstrated that reasoning has command over the emotions. (WEB) 10 For their virtues, then, it is right that I should commend those men who died with their mother at this time on behalf of nobility and goodness; and for their honors, I may count them blessed. (WEB) 11 For they, winning admiration not only from men in general, but even from the persecutors, for their courage and endurance, became the means of the destruction of the tyranny against their nation, having conquered the tyrant by their endurance, so that by them their country was purified. (WEB) 12 But we may now at once enter upon the question, having commenced, as is our custom, with laying down the doctrine, and so proceed to the account of these people, giving glory to the all-wise God. (WEB) 13 Therefore the question is whether reasoning is absolute master of the emotions. (WEB) 14 Let’s determine, then, what reasoning is and what emotion is, and how many forms of emotion there are, and whether reasoning rules over all of these. (WEB) 15 Reasoning is intellect accompanied by a life of righteousness, putting foremost the consideration of wisdom. (WEB) 16 Wisdom is a knowledge of divine and human things, and of their causes. (WEB) 17 This is contained in the education of the law, by means of which we learn divine things reverently and human things pr… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 1:1–35
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4 Maccabees 2:17–19
17 Thus Moses, when angered against Dathan and Abiram, did nothing to them in wrath, but regulated his anger by reasoning. (WEB) 18 For the temperate mind is able, as I said, to be superior to the emotions, and to correct some and destroy others. (WEB) 19 For why else did our most… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 2:3–5
3 For, although young, and ripe for sexual intercourse, he nullified by reasoning the stimulus of his emotions. (WEB) 4 It isn’t merely the stimulus of sensual indulgence, but that of every desire, that reasoning is able to master. (WEB) 5 For instance, the law says, “You shall… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 6:34–35
34 It is only fair that we should allow that the power belongs to reasoning, since it masters external miseries. (WEB) 35 It would be ridiculous if it weren’t so. I prove that reasoning has not only mastered pains, but that it is also superior to the pleasures, and withst… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 3:17–19
17 For the temperate mind has power to conquer the pressure of the emotions, to quench the fires of excitement, (WEB) 18 and to wrestle down the pains of the body, however excessive, and through the excellency of reasoning, to spurn all the assaults of the emotions. (WEB) 19 But th… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 3:4–6
4 Any one of you may not be able to eradicate malice, but reasoning has force to work with you to prevent you yielding to malice. (WEB) 5 For reasoning is not an eradicator, but an antagonist of the emotions. (WEB) 6 This may be more clearly comprehended from the thirst of King… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 6:30–32
30 Thus speaking, the holy man departed, noble in his torments, and even to the agonies of death resisted in his reasoning for the sake of the law. (WEB) 31 Confessedly, therefore, religious reasoning is master of the emotions. (WEB) 32 For had the emotions been superior to reasoni… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 3:1–2
1 The argument is exceedingly ridiculous, for reasoning doesn’t appear to rule over its own affections, but over those of the body, (WEB) 2 in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 18:1–3
1 O Israelite children, descendants of the seed of Abraham, obey this law and in every way be religious, (WEB) 2 knowing that religious reasoning is lord of the emotions, and those not only inward but outward. (WEB) 3 Therefore those people who gave up their bodies to pains for… (WEB)
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