Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway

After being attacked by Andrew and Toby, Sebastian is reasonably confused and angry, but Olivia, stepping in to stop the conflict, offers Sebastian some wise advice: "Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway/In this uncivil and unjust extent/Against thy peace" (Twelfth Night, 4.2.55-57). Something that has been on my mind a lot recently is thinking before I speak. Strong emotion can bring us to strong words that we often regret later when the emotion has left but the sting of the words remain. And beyond applying to intense, anger-driven situations, I think this idea of allowing wisdom to guide us also has implications for everyday conversation. Often, I become a casual listener to people, and I easily respond with, "oh wow" or "haha that's awesome" without really considering what someone has just told me. In other words, Olivia's words here have reminded me to refocus myself while I'm interacting others. If something annoys or irritates me, I shouldn't be quick to judge, even in my head, but I should allow wisdom to sort through the situation and notice the underlying cause of the emotion rather than simply allowing myself to judge. When I'm listening to a friend, I should allow wisdom to recognize that my friend is sharing it with me out of trust, and I should not take it lightly. In confusing or wild situations, I will try to keep my cool and allow wisdom, rather than my immediate inclinations, to guide my responding actions and words.

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