In truth, even he who is extremely passionate by nature, and whose livelihood obliges him to sit all day at the street-corners, has no excuse whatsoever for his sins, and he is termed a rasha gamur ("an utter evildoer") for not having the dread of G-d before his eyes.

For he should have controlled himself and restrained the feeling of desire in his heart because of the fear of G-d Who sees all his actions;

This [fear of G-d would have enabled him to overcome his desires, despite the difficulties imposed by his surroundings and his nature] for, as explained above, [5] the mind has supremacy over the heart by nature of one's birth, [i.e., it is man's inborn characteristic that his mind is able to master and restrain his heart's desires].

   

Notes:

5. (Back to text) Ch. 12.