One benefit you can gain from the careful study of texts is the habit of considering carefully the words you will use before you speak or write. You must allow your passion to cool, and allow your reason to work, if you want to make sense. In a moment of passion, we may say or write something which seems obviously correct to ourselves, but which later will be seen as foolish. A recent letter, published in a newspaper, had several paragraphs of heated political opinion, in the midst of which was buried the sentence: "It doesn't matter what you believe in, it matters how you express yourself."
Even a nano-second's worth of reflection reveals the idiocy of that statement, and it undermined any other good argumentation which the writer may have put forth. Whatever your opinions, you have an obligation to state them rationally - if you state them irrationally, you will lose the right to be among educated people.
