8 Therefore, a man who regulates his course by the law, even if he is a lover of money, immediately puts pressure on his own disposition by lending to the needy without interest, and cancelling the debt on the seventh year. (WEB) 9 If a man is greedy, he is ruled by the law acting through reasoning, so that he doesn’t glean his harvest crops or vintage. In reference to other points we may perceive that it is reasoning that conquers his emotions. (WEB) 10 For the law conquers even affection toward parents, not surrendering virtue on their account. (WEB)
4 Maccabees 2:8–10
Semantically similar passages
4 Maccabees 1:33–35
33 Otherwise, how is it that when urged on to forbidden meats, we reject the gratification which would come from them? Isn’t it because reasoning is able to command the appetites? I believe so. (WEB) 34 Hence it is, then, that when craving seafood, birds, four-footed anim… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 1:5–7
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 just… (WEB)
4 Maccabees 3:1–3
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) 3 … (WEB)
4 Maccabees 2:19–21
19 For why else did our most wise father Jacob blame Simeon and Levi for having irrationally slain the whole race of the Shechemites, saying, “Cursed be their anger!”? (WEB) 20 For if reasoning didn’t possess the power of subduing angry affections, he would not have said… (WEB) 21 … (WEB)
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 7:21–23
21 since what person, walking religiously by the whole rule of philosophy, and believing in God, (WEB) 22 and knowing that it is a blessed thing to endure all kinds of hardships for virtue, would not, for the sake of religion, master his emotion? (WEB) 23 For only the wise and brav… (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 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)
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources