The Book of Proverbs is one of the "sapiential books" of the old testament, together with the Psalms and the Ecclesiastes. Its authorship is attributed to the King Solomon, the wise by excellence, in the book Solomon reflects about the dangers of the world and the need of the Gift of Fear of the Lord and from there the importance of wisdom and prudence, in the book we find a series of advices, sayings and maxims to reach the true goods of life: the immortality, the eternal life and to live with wisdom.  Among the sayings is this: "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly", Proverbs 14:29. Understanding in this teaching means great prudence.
The synthesis of this idea is very simple: "learn to think coldly" or if you want not hate your enemy, use the reason whithout leaving by the fleeting emotions, emotions that cloud the reason. Plato describes the threefold division of man: reason, passion and desire. The idea of the Greeks was never subjecting the reason to passions, the  man who does it, do not listen to reason, a man dominated by passengers and momentary desires, a man who does not follow a plan, ultimately a real fool.
Prudence is fundamentally practical reason, it is the correct administration of justice and all virtues.The Understanding or great Prudence (not to be confused with Providence that is a divine attribute) reference us to think about tomorrow, to think in the long term. The man who possesses great prudence or understanding is the man who is guided by his vision, for his ideals, the man who can considered good the for and against of every situation, the man who knows to remain silent and wait for the right time to act,  to be patient and who knows to work essentially the self-esteem. Changes usually occur slow and gradually, the ability to generate small changes is crucial, this idea works in the long term. The wise man works on small changes hoping the big. Here lays the blessed life.
The fool does not tolerate failure, believed in his own lies, waiting and speculating in short-term results, and when he not get them he acts with violence. Discharge his frustration on those around him insensitively, the irascible man is a danger to himself and others.