“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Prov. 16:32). Who is mighty is he who subdues his passion.¹ Be aware that man’s might, strength and fear are all in the Holy One, blessed be He. And know that dissension, discord and the ear that desires to hear idle and vain talk and contentious matters, (all these things) bring the individual to anger. Anger brings one to sin, to serious transgression and forbidden matters, and one transgression causes another.², 4:2. Do not exalt yourself over the poor man neither with your wisdom nor with your wealth for it is all vanity and a striving after wind.³ Do not incline your ear to hear an evil thing lest you yourself stumble.

footnotes: ¹ Aboth 4:1. ² Ibid. ³ Ecclesiastes 1:14.