“Melior est patiens viro forti, et qui dominatur animo suo expugnatore urbium.”
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
“He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.”
“One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.”
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.”
Valiant. Alexandrian Septuagint adds, “and a prudent man than a great farmer.” Greek: Georgiou. (Haydock) — Cities. To govern the passions is more difficult. (St. Gregory, Past. iii. p. Adm. x.; St. Thomas Aquinas ii. 2. q. 128. a. 6.)
Note, 1. It is the way of the upright to avoid sin, and every thing that looks like it and leads towards it; and this is a highway marked out by authority, tracked by many that have gone before us, and in which we meet with many that keep company with us; it is easy to find and safe to be travelled in, like a highway, Isa 35 8. To depart from evil is understanding. 2. It is the care of the upright to preserve their own souls, that they be not polluted with sin, and that by the troubles of the world they may not be put out of the possession of them, especially that they may not perish for ever, Matt 16 26. And it is therefore their care to keep their way, and not turn aside out of it, on either hand, but to press towards perfection. Those that adhere to their duty secure their felicity. Keep thy way and God will keep thee.