Texts in Conversation
Proverbs 16 calls the person slow to anger greater than a warrior who captures a city. Rabbinic tradition in Pirkei Avot draws on this to define real strength as mastering one’s own impulses rather than conquering others.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Proverbs 16:32
Hebrew Bible
31 Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness. 32 Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city. 33 The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the Lord.
Pirkei Avot 4:1
Mishnah
Rabbinic
1 Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30). 2 Ben Azzai said: Be quick in performing a minor commandment as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
Date: 190-230 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Ben Zoma takes up the question of who is mighty and transforms it from a physical quality to a spiritual one: “Who is mighty? The one who conquers his evil inclination, as it is said: ‘He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city’ (Proverbs 16:32).” Rather than making strength a quality proven in battle, Ben Zoma reinterprets the proof text from Proverbs 16 to show that control of the inner passions proves one’s strength. Conquering the evil inclination means to conquer the base impulses that pursue physical desire alone or gives in to readily to anger or sin. According to Avot de Rabbi Natan A, it is through Torah study that one gains this inner strength to conquer the evil inclination. ..."
Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Daniel
The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot
(p. 196) Peeters, 2018
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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