The Stoics define wisdom to be conducted by reason, and…
““The Stoics define wisdom to be conducted by reason, and folly nothing else but the being hurried by passion, lest our life should otherwise have been too dull and inactive, that creator, who out of clay first tempered and made us up, put into the composition of our humanity more than a pound of passions to an ounce of reason; and reason he confined within the narrow cells of the brain, whereas he left passions the whole body to range in. Farther, he set up two sturdy champions to stand perpetually on guard, that reason might make no assault, surprise, nor inroad ; anger, which keeps its station in the fortress of the heart ; and lust, which like the signs Virgo and Scorpio, rules the appetites and passions.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reason should guide life while passions are powerful forces that must be guarded by self‑control, especially anger and lust.
In simple terms: Reason leads, passions must be restrained.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate rational self‑discipline.
Themes
philosophy
self‑control
human nature
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- personal decision‑making
- conflict resolution
- relationship management
- stress coping
Key Concepts
Stoicism
virtue ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance emotion and logic?
- What strategies keep anger in check?
A Different Perspective
Passions can overwhelm reason if not actively managed.