Bonaventure, on Eccl 7:10

“Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.”

“Having set down the lessons for modesty and constancy, here he sets down lessons for having prudence. And because it belongs to the prudent man to discern where one may err: therefore he sets down four lessons for having discretion. The first is for the discernment of useful things: the second, for the discernment of the divine works: the third, for the discernment of times: the fourth, for the discernment of the merits of men. The first instruction, therefore, was given for the discernment of useful things: for in different times there are different advantages arising from different causes. Therefore he says: "Do not say: What do you think is the reason that former times," that is, of the ancients, "were better?" because, namely, in them there was want: "than they now are," when, namely, there is already an abundance of things: because this question arises from thoughtlessness: whence he adds: "For such an inquiry is foolish."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.