120 philosophical essays you must read in your life

Chapter 56

Chapter 3 Section 13 Self-made

[United States] Orison Madden

Plato said: "As far as man is concerned, the most important and most important victory is to conquer himself, and the most shameful and contemptible thing is to be conquered by his own selfish desires."

Self-control is the foundation of all virtues, and if a person succumbs to impulse and passion, he immediately gives up his moral freedom.

Do you have an irritable temper?If there is, a temporary outbreak will collapse the embankment of a thousand miles in an ant's nest and destroy the long-term accumulation.Sometimes an angry word can set off a long-lasting storm.Just one angry word can lose many of the lowered tones that suppress anger and prevent unpleasant emotions from developing.Many people died in rage.Outbursts of anger also lead to frequent attacks of illness."Keep calm, because anger is not justification," Webster said. George?Hubert also said: "Debate should be calm, because rage can turn falsehoods into blunders and truths into rudeness." His ability to conquer his emotions is the measure of his inner strength, not the power of his emotions to conquer him.

Have you ever seen a man who was publicly insulted, only to turn pale, bite his trembling lips, and answer peacefully?Have you ever seen a man who is in great pain, yet controls himself like a statue hewn out of solid rock?Have you ever seen a man who suffers daily from despair, who remains silent, who never tells anyone that someone has broken the peace of his home?This is power.They are such people: "Although they are full of passion, they can keep their self-discipline; although they are full of anger, they can adapt to the situation and avoid it; although they are provoked, they can be strict with themselves and be lenient to others-these people are strong. A hero of the spiritual world."

Self-conquest is the final and great triumph of man.

If a man loses self-control, he loses almost everything.Without self-control, there is no patience, no ability to manage himself, no self-reliance, no backbone, strength, and integrity.

Many people have no control over their emotions, they indulge their desires, and they are self-willed and unrestrained.There is no limit to sorrow or joy.The temperate man is not swayed by his emotions; he does not lose too much, his firm will overcomes depression, and he does not lose his spirit by momentary pleasures, for ecstasy and despair alike lead to unhappiness.Temper should be subordinated to reason and conscience.Many people use impatience as an excuse to excuse themselves for doing something wrong or stupid.But he who is in control of himself controls his temper, and turns his passions into motives for good rather than evil.Temper under control is an important force, which, judiciously coordinated, becomes the energy that drives work, as the heat of a steam engine is converted into the force that drives the wheels.

【Together with you】

"Even a little restraint on oneself will make a person strong." Gorky said.A person who knows self-control is a strong person in life.When a man loses self-control, he loses almost everything.Self-control can be said to be the root of all virtues. If we cannot control our emotions and will, we must become slaves to our emotions and our hearts.Dante said: "The measure of a person's strength should be based on his self-control." In this regard, Seneca also said: "The person who can restrain himself has the most prestige." The whole meaning of responsibility is this There are many things in the world that you must do, even though you may not like them.

(End of this chapter)