True kingship is ruling the passions

A Comparison of Royal Power, Wealth, and Preeminence with the Monk Who Lives According to the Truest Way of Life in Christ. 1. I see that most people love and admire what merely seems good rather than what is naturally excellent and truly good. So I think it necessary to speak briefly about each kind, and to set side by side the things many people neglect and the things they pursue with great eagerness. Then, once we understand the difference between them, we may value the one as worthy of our effort and salvation, and learn to despise the other as worth nothing. People love wealth, power, rule, and glory, and most call the rulers of nations blessed as they ride on splendid chariots, enjoy the shouts of heralds, and are surrounded by a large bodyguard. But the way of life of those who practice it is despised, along with those who have chosen the monastic life. When those rulers appear, they turn the crowd toward themselves; when these monks appear, they draw no one's eyes to themselves, or at most very few. No one would wish to become like these, but everyone wishes to become like those. Yet to acquire power and take rule over a nation is difficult and impossible for most people, and lovers of rule would need great wealth. But to choose the monastic life and live in the service of God is equally easy and within reach for everyone. The possession of rule is destroyed together with this life; rather, it abandons its lovers even while they live, and has already brought some into great danger or disgrace. The monastic life, however, fills the righteous with many good things now, and after the end of life leads them radiant and rejoicing to the judgment seat of God the Father, when most rulers will be seen giving a great accounting for the lives they have lived. Come then, let us set side by side the good things of the way of life and the things that seem excellent in the power and glory of this present life, and let us learn the difference between each kind of good. For things placed side by side become clearer. Or rather, if it seems good, let us set the summit of good things—I mean kingship—beside the way of life, and observe the fruits of each possession, learning precisely over what the king rules and over what the monk rules. The king stands over cities, lands, and many nations, directing generals, governors, armies, peoples, and councils by his nods. But the one who has given himself to God and chosen the monastic life rules over anger, envy, love of money, pleasure, and the other evils, always watching and taking care that he does not allow his soul to come under shameful passions, nor his reason to be enslaved to a bitter tyranny, but keeps his mind always above all these things, setting the fear of God over the passions. Such is the rule and power the king possesses, and such is the rule and power the monk possesses, so that one would more justly call the monk a king than the one shining in purple and crown and seated on a golden throne. 2. For the true king is the one who masters anger, envy, and pleasure, who brings everything under the laws of God, keeps his mind free, and does not allow the tyranny of pleasures to exercise power in his soul.