4 Maccabees 1:4-6

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁴ it is also clear that it masters the passions that hinder one from justice, such as malice, and those that stand in the way of courage, namely, anger, fear, and pain. ⁵ Some might perhaps ask, “If reason rules the passions, why is it not sovereign over forgetfulness and ignorance?” Their attempt at argument is ridiculous!^{(A) 6} For reason does not rule its own passions but those that are opposed to justice, courage, and self-control,^[a] and it is not for the purpose of destroying them but so that one may not give way to them.