4 Maccabees 2:7

7 It is obvious that clear thinking is in charge of the emotions—otherwise, how could someone who always indulges in binge eating in private, or a person who tends to overeat, or a person who tends to get drunk, learn a better way?

4 Maccabees 2:7 In-Context

5 So the Law says, "You will not desire your neighbor's wife or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
6 Since the Law commanded us not to desire, I should be able to convince you even more that clear thinking is able to control desires. This also proves true in the case of emotions that prevent justice.
7 It is obvious that clear thinking is in charge of the emotions—otherwise, how could someone who always indulges in binge eating in private, or a person who tends to overeat, or a person who tends to get drunk, learn a better way?
8 As soon as people who love money decide to live according to the Law, they are forced to change their way of life, lending to those who ask without charging interest and canceling all debts in the seventh year.
9 If people are greedy, they are forced by the Law through clear thinking, so they don't pick up the grain in the field that they missed the first time or go back through the vineyard to pick the last clusters of grapes. In every other matter we can also see that clear thinking controls the emotions.
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