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[4]
although the quality is thought
rather to err on the side of defect, since the gentle-tempered man is not prompt to seek
redress for injuries, but rather inclined to forgive them).
[5]
The defect, on the other hand, call it a sort of Lack of Spirit or what not, is blamed;
since those who do not get angry at things at which it is right to be angry are considered
foolish, and so are those who do not get angry in the right manner, at the a right time,
and with the right people.
[6]
It is thought that they do not
feel or resent an injury, and that if a man is never angry he will not stand up for him
self; and it is considered servile to put up with an insult to oneself or suffer one's
friends to be insulted.
[7]
Excess also is possible in each of these ways, for one can be angry with the wrong
people, for wrong things, or more violently or more quickly or longer than is right; but
not all these excesses of temper are found in the same person. This would be impossible,
since evil destroys even itself, and when present in its entirety becomes unbearable.
[8]
There are then first the Irascible, who get angry
quickly and with the wrong people and for the wrong things and too violently, but whose
anger is soon over. This last is the best point in their character, and it is due to the
fact that they do not keep their anger in, but being quick-tempered display it openly by
retaliating, and then have done with it.
[9]
The excessively
quick-tempered are Passionate; they fly into a passion at everything and on all occasions:
hence their name.
[10]
The Bitter-tempered on the other hand
are