6
For reason does not rule its own emotions, but those that are opposed to justice, courage, and self-control; and it is not for the purpose of destroying them, but so that one may not give way to them.
7
I could prove to you from many and various examples that reason is dominant over the emotions,
8
but I can demonstrate it best from the noble bravery of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar and the seven brothers and their mother.
9
All of these, by despising sufferings that bring death, demonstrated that reason controls the emotions.
10
On this anniversary it is fitting for me to praise for their virtues those who, with their mother, died for the sake of nobility and goodness, but I would also call them blessed for the honor in which they are held.
11
For all people, even their torturers, marveled at their courage and endurance, and they became the cause of the downfall of tyranny over their nation. By their endurance they conquered the tyrant, and thus their native land was purified through them.
12
I shall shortly have an opportunity to speak of this; but, as my custom is, I shall begin by stating my main principle, and then I shall turn to their story, giving glory to the all-wise God.
13
Our inquiry, accordingly, is whether reason is sovereign over the emotions.
14
We shall decide just what reason is and what emotion is, how many kinds of emotions there are, and whether reason rules over all these.
15
Now reason is the mind that with sound logic prefers the life of wisdom.
16
Wisdom, next, is the knowledge of divine and human matters and the causes of these.