Caput XXIV. De iracundia
Scripture Condemns Uncontrolled Anger
Citing multiple authorities, Scripture reveals that bitter anger lacks mercy, perverts justice, and provokes endless strife.
The outstanding Preacher of the world says: All bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and shouting, and blasphemy should be removed from you (Eph.✦ 4:31). For human anger cannot accomplish God's justice (Jas.✦ 1:20). Anger without self-control is devoid of reason. A soft answer mitigates anger; harsh speech stirs up fury. An irritable person, as Solomon says, provokes quarrels; a patient person calms them down (Prov.✦ 15:18). But who can endure a quick-tempered spirit? (Prov. 18:14)? Anger has no mercy, and a bursting fury knows no end to vengeance (Prov. 27:4).
The Righteous Use of Anger
While destructive anger must be calmed, anger directed at one's own sins is both necessary and righteous.
If anger has already seized you, calm it down. That anger is the bad kind which disturbs the mind so that it destroys sound judgment. That anger is right and is angry at his own sins and is indignant with himself while he acts badly. For the prophet says: Be angry, and do not wish to sin (Psal. 4:5).
Patience Under Another's Wrath
When faced with another's anger, the virtuous soul responds with patience, conquering evil with good and guarding interior peace.
He gave way to what belongs to nature; he endured what belongs to fault. Another person's anger is soothed by your patience. Don't let evil conquer you; instead, conquer evil with good (Rom.✦ XII, 21).✦ Let another person's sin be your reward. Does another person's anger upset you? Whatever displeases you in another person should also displease you in yourself. Don't let another person's disturbance stain the peace of your own mind.
Refusing the Fool's Contagion
Meeting a fool's anger with your own only doubles the evil; it is better to remain good than be corrupted by another's wickedness.
Don't make yourself equal to a fool, because anger rests in the bosom of a fool (Eccles.✦ 7:10). If you get angry at him, there will be two evil men—you and him. It's better for you to be good, even though he is bad. Why should you be made bad by someone else's wickedness?
Read the original Latin
Egregius mundi Praedicator dicit: Omnis enim amaritudo, et ira, et indignatio, et clamor et blasphemia tollatur a vobis (Ephes. IV, 31). Nec enim ira viri justitiam Dei operari poterit (Jac. I, 20) Ira sine temperamento expers est rationis. Responsio mollis mitigat iram, sermo durus suscitat furorem. Vir iracundus, ut ait Salomon, provocat rixas: qui patiens est, mitigat suscitatas (Prov. XV, 18). Spiriritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis sustinere poterit (Prov.
XVIII, 14)? Ira non habet misericordiam, nec erumpens furor finem vindictae novit (Prov. XXVII, 4). Si te, o homo, praeoccupaverit ira, mitiga eam. Illa ira mala est, quae mentem turbat, ut rectum consilium perdat. Illa ira est justa et necessaria, quando homo contra propria irascitur peccata, et contra seipsum indignatur, dum male agit. Dicit enim propheta: Irascimini, et nolite peccare (Psal. IV, 5).
Concessit quod naturae est, tulit quod culpae est. Ira alterius tua liniatur patientia. Noli vinci a malo, sed vince in bono malum (Rom. XII, 21). Alteterius peccatum tuum sit praemium. Displicet tibi alterius ira? Quod tibi in altero displicet, in teipso quoque displiceat. Noli tranquillitatem mentis tuae alterius perturbatione maculare.
Noli te aequalem stulto facere, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit (Eccle. VII, 10). Si tu irasceris contra eum, erunt duo mali, tu et ille. Melius est te esse bonum, quanquam ille sit malus. Cur tu ex alterius malitia malus efficeris?
Scripture echoes
- ↩Eph.4.31 — Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
- ↩Jas.1.20 — For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
- ↩Prov.15.18 — A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient man quiets contention.
- ↩Rom.12.21 — Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
- ↩Rom.12.21 — Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
- ↩Eccl.7.10 — Do not say, "What has happened that the former days were better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
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