Letter 802: Anger is a fire: useful when controlled, devastating when unleashed.
Consider well, excellent man, that the one who draws upon himself a passion through premeditation, who sets his work upon nothing else than gazing without intermission, and who feeds the passion by continual and unceasing contemplation — such a man "has already committed adultery in his heart." For the word "already" makes plain to all but the most dull-witted that this is spoken of those who attempt the impossible. For what if the woman is married and chaste, and guarded by many? How could she be easily conquered by the lover? Therefore it is rightly said: "He has already committed adultery" — that is, he would not have abstained from the deed if it had been possible. For if the entire strength of the soul had not surrendered to the passion of love, the body would never have been persuaded to visit continually, and to feast the passion with unbridled eyes — since indeed many, even while in love, blush to look upon the objects of their desire. But if the love of glory can bridle the eyes and overcome bodily desire, how much more will the fear of God accomplish this? And if someone should ask, "What then, if when the deed is possible he refrains?" — I would answer: this is indeed a great and truly divine thing, and a genuine proof of chastity. And such a man, even if he has seen and been wounded in passing, would not constantly seek to gaze; rather, he would remove himself far away, lest the continual sight provide fuel for the fire. But if he is eager to gaze, he convicts himself that through his gazing he is feeding the passion. And if while gazing continually he claims to suffer no harm, he will be refuted by Job, who is worthy of all praise, saying: "I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not look upon a maiden." But if he considers too small a rival the one who crushed the strength of the devil, then he would most justly deserve rebuke for this very reason — for saying that he continually looks but suffers nothing.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
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