Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Ecclesiastes 9:18

Western Saints

Jerome

"And wisdom is better than weapons, but a single rogue can ruin a great deal of good. "Now he also takes wisdom in preference to strength and says that it is worth more in battle than weapons. But if there is one fool, however small and worthless, he will repeatedly destroy riches and great wealth by his stupidity. But because the Hebrew can also be read as: 'and he who sins once, will lose much goodness', much righteousness will be lost in return and virtues will follow in turn, and he who has one, has all [Cfr. Cic de Offic. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes ↗

Bonaventure

"Wisdom is better," etc. Here secondly he sets forth wisdom above the defense of armor, saying: "Wisdom is better than weapons of war," because weapons of war are for protection; likewise wisdom protects. Proverbs 2: "Counsel shall keep you, and prudence shall preserve you, that you may be delivered from the evil way and from the man who speaks perverse things." And that it protects better is clear, because he who loses wisdom through fault cannot defend himself by armor without losing many goods. …

Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9 ↗