4 Maccabees 1:4-6

Revised Standard Version

⁴ it is also clear that it masters the emotions 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 emotions, why is it not sovereign over forgetfulness and ignorance?” Their attempt at argument is ridiculous!^{[a] 6} For reason does not rule its own emotions, but those that are opposed to justice, courage, and self-control;^[b] and it is not for the purpose of destroying them, but so that one may not give way to them.