1Well then, some one may ask, if Reason is master of the passions why is it not master of forgetfulness and ignorance? But the argument is supremely ridiculous. For Reason is not shown to be
2master over passions or defects in itself, but over those of the body. For example, none of you is able to extirpate our natural desire, but the Reason can enable him to escape being made a slave by
3desire. None of you is able to extirpate anger from the soul, but it is possible for the Reason to
4come to his aid against anger. None of you can extirpate a malevolent disposition, but Reason can
5be his powerful ally against being swayed by malevolence. Reason is not the extirpator of the passions, but their antagonist.
6The case of the thirst of King David may serve at least to make this clearer.