Since I am about to discuss an eminently philosophical subject--whether pious reason is absolute master of the passions--I would duly advise you to attend diligently to the philosophy here set forth. For the subject is essential to the path to knowledge for everyone, and, furthermore, embraces the praise of the greatest virtue: I speak, of course, of prudence. If, then, it is apparent that reason prevails over the passions hindering [temperance], namely, gluttony and lust, then it is also plainly apparent that it holds sway over the passions impeding [fortitude], namely, anger, fear, and pain. Some might perhaps ask, "How then, if reason overcomes the passions, does it not master forgetfulness and ignorance?" Their attempt at argument is ridiculous. For reason does not overcome its own passions but those opposed to justice, [fortitude], and [temperance]; and it overcomes these not so that it destroys them, but so that one does not give way to them.
4 Maccabees 1:1-6, NETS (PDF), except for the words in brackets, where I have substituted the more traditional philosophical terms for 'courage' and 'self-control'.
