On the contrary, The Philosopher says (Rhet. ii, 5) that “fear makes men of counsel.”

I answer that, A man of counsel may be taken in two ways.  First, from his being willing or anxious to take counsel.  And thus fear makes men of counsel.  Because, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 3), “we take counsel on great matters, because therein we distrust ourselves.”  Now things which make us afraid, are not simply evil, but have a certain magnitude, both because they seem difficult to repel, and because they are apprehended as near to us, as stated above (Q. 42, A. 2).  Wherefore men seek for counsel especially when they are afraid.

Secondly, a man of counsel means one who is apt for giving good counsel:  and in this sense, neither fear nor any passion makes men of counsel.  Because when a man is affected by a passion, things seem to him greater or smaller than they really are:  thus to a lover, what he loves seems better; to him that fears, what he fears seems more dreadful.  Consequently owing to the want of right judgment, every passion, considered in itself, hinders the faculty of giving good counsel.

This suffices for the Reply to the First Objection.

Reply Obj. 2:  The stronger a passion is, the greater the hindrance is it to the man who is swayed by it.  Consequently, when fear is intense, man does indeed wish to take counsel, but his thoughts are so disturbed, that he can find no counsel.  If, however, the fear be slight, so as to make a man wish to take counsel, without gravely disturbing the reason; it may even make it easier for him to take good counsel, by reason of his ensuing carefulness.

Reply Obj. 3:  Hope also makes man a good counsellor:  because, as the Philosopher says (Rhet. ii, 5), “no man takes counsel in matters he despairs of,” nor about impossible things, as he says in Ethic. iii, 3.  But fear incites to counsel more than hope does.  Because hope is of good things, as being possible of attainment; whereas fear is of evil things, as being difficult to repel, so that fear regards the aspect of difficulty more than hope does.  And it is in matters of difficulty, especially when we distrust ourselves, that we take counsel, as stated above. ________________________

THIRD ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 44, Art. 3]

Whether Fear Makes One Tremble?

Objection 1:  It would seem that trembling is not an effect of fear.  Because trembling is occasioned by cold; thus we observe that a cold person trembles.  Now fear does not seem to make one cold, but rather to cause a parching heat:  a sign whereof is that those who fear are thirsty, especially if their fear be very great, as in the case of those who are being led to execution.  Therefore fear does not cause trembling.

Obj. 2:  Further, faecal evacuation is occasioned by heat; hence laxative medicines are generally warm.  But these evacuations are often caused by fear.  Therefore fear apparently causes heat; and consequently does not cause trembling.