Paintings by Lucian Freud (top) and Picasso (bottom)

Just as the intellect of a hungry man imagines bread and that of a thirsty man water, so the intellect of a glutton imagines a profusion of foods, that of a sensualist the forms of women, that of a vain man worldly honour, that of an avaricious man financial gain, that of a rancorous man revenge on whoever has offended him, that of an envious man how to harm the object of his envy, and so on with all the other passions. For an intellect agitated by passions is beset by impassioned conceptual images whether the body is awake or asleep. (Maximos the Confessor)

I do not - yet - disagree with my partner in discussion and discovery.

What Maximos describes is certainly true. The distraction and dysfunction of these mis-directed passions is obvious.

I am tempted to read ahead, so that I might prepare an argument. I expect we may yet disagree. But it is better to listen and to fully embrace each opportunity for agreement, and quiet my passion for argument.