“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (v28).  The proverbs teach that life’s great struggle is about learning to properly govern our own emotions, desires, and impulses.  “If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it” (v16).  When we are not dominated by our own emotions, we see others more clearly, we can resist bitterness and revenge (v17, 21), and we can avoid escalating conflict (v8,15). 

When we are not slaves to our impulses, we are more at peace with ourselves and others.  “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (v11).