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)
4 Maccabees 1:1–9
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4 Maccabees 1:29–31
29 Reasoning, the universal farmer, purging and pruning each of these, tying up, watering, and transplanting, in every way improves the materials of the morals and affections. (WEB) 30 For reasoning is the leader of the virtues, but it is the sole ruler of the emotions. O… (WEB)
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 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 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 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)
4 Maccabees 1:18–20
18 The forms of wisdom are self-control, justice, courage, and temperance. (WEB) 19 The leading one of these is self-control, by whose means, indeed, it is that reasoning rules over the emotions. (WEB) 20 Of the emotions, pleasure and pain are the two most comprehensive; and they a… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 13:1–2
1 If then, the seven kindred despised troubles even to death, it is admitted on all sides that righteous reasoning is absolute master over the emotions. (WEB) 2 For just as if they had eaten of the unholy as slaves to the emotions, we would have said that they had been… (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)
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