Page:Summa Theologica (2nd rev. ed.) - Volume 6.djvu/549

Rh sometimes breaks out into unbecoming words: hence it is written (Prov. xxv. 28): As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking. But anger, above all, hinders the judgment of reason, as stated above (A. 3). Consequently above all it makes one break out into unbecoming words. Therefore it does not cause taciturnity. Obj. 3. Further, it is written (Matth. xii. 34): Out of the abtmdance of the heart the mouth speaketh. But anger, above all, causes a disturbance in the heart, as stated above (A. 2). Therefore above all it conduces to speech. Therefore it does not cause taciturnity. On the contrary, Gregory says (Moral, v.) that when anger does not vent itself outwardly by the lips, inwardly it burns the more fiercely. I answer that, As stated above (A. 3; Q. XLVI., A. 4), anger both follows an act of reason, and hinders the reason : and in both respects it may cause taciturnity. On the part of the reason, when the judgment of reason prevails so far, that although it does not curb the appetite in its inordinate desire for vengeance, yet it curbs the tongue from unbridled speech. Wherefore Gregory says [Moral, v.) : Sometimes when the mind is disturbed, anger, as if in judgment, com- mands silence. — On the part of the impediment to reason because, as stated above (A. 2), the disturbance of anger reaches to the outward members, and chiefly to those mem- bers which reflect more distinctly the emotions of the heart, such as the e^^es, face and tonp^ue; wherefore, as observed above (A. 2), the tongue stammers, the countenance takes fire, the eyes grow fierce. Consequently anger may cause such a disturbance, that the tongue is altogether deprived of speech; and taciturnity is the result. Reply Obj. i. Anger sometimes goes so far as to hinder the reason from curbing the tongue: but sometimes it goes yet farther, so as to paralyze the tongue and other outward members. And this suflices for the Reply to the Second Objection. Reply Obj. 3. The disturbance of the heart may some-