The tougher battle - self-control

Hi,

"They said regarding a pious man that he encountered men returning from a war against enemies. After a mighty battle they had taken spoils, and he said to them: You have returned from the minor war bearing spoils, now prepare for the major war.

"They asked: What is the major war? He replied: The war of the inclinations and its soldiers."

(Rabbeinu Bachya, Chovot haLevavot 5:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Controlling desires

Hi,

"A person's physicality will never cease to rule him and to incline him toward its purposes, but if a person develops his wisdom and learning and strengthens this aspect of his persona, then he will become strong enough to conquer his nature and not release the reins of his desires from his hand, and he will empower himself to walk in the paths set by his mind."

(Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, Path of Gd, I 4:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Daily Torah Thought - 3/31

Hi,

"Try to master yourself in small and easy things, even in permitted things, and self-command will soon become easy to you even in difficult and big things, and even against sins to which you have been long habituated."

(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb, paragraph 518)

Have a great day,
Mordechai