The Creator gave and bestowed upon us reason to the end that we might thereby attain and achieve every advantage that lies within the reach of our nature. It is God's greatest blessing to us, and there is nothing that surpasses it in procuring our advantage: by reason we are preferred above the irrational beasts, and by reason we perceive all that raises us up and sweetens and beautifies our life.
If reason is of such eminence and importance, it behoves us not to degrade it nor bring it down from its high rank; not to make it the governed, seeing that it is the governor, nor the controlled, seeing that it is the controller; but rather to consult it in all things, and to rely upon it in the conduct of all our affairs.
Passion we must rein in and compel to obey reason's every command; for passion is the blemish of reason, clouding it and drawing it away from its proper path, so that the reasonable man no longer sees clearly, and his deliberation is spoiled.
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