Note, 1. A passionate man is a brutish man. However at other times he
may have some wisdom, take him in his passion ungoverned, and he is a
fool in his folly; those are fools in whose bosom anger rests and in
whose countenance anger rages. He has put off man, and is become like a
bear, a raging bear, a bear robbed of her whelps; he is as fond of the
gratifications of his lusts and passions as a bear of her whelps
(which, though ugly, are her own), as eager in the pursuit of them as
she is in quest of her whelps when they are missing, and as full of
indignation if crossed in the pursuit. 2. He is a dangerous man, falls
foul of every one that stands in his way, though innocent, though his
friend, as a bear robbed of her whelps sets upon the first man she
meets as the robber. Ira furor brevis est--Anger is temporary madness.
One may more easily stop, escape, or guard against an enraged bear,
than an outrageous angry man. Let us therefore watch over our own
passions (lest they get head and do mischief) and so consult our own
honour; and let us avoid the company of furious men, and get out of
their way when they are in their fury, and so consult our own safety.
Currenti cede furori--Give place unto wrath.