Podcast Summary: New Books Network – "Knight, Monk, King, Prophet" with Juan Domínguez

Host: Chris Odiniec
Guest: Juan Domínguez, author of Knight, Monk, King, Prophet: A Christian Man’s Guide to the Four Temperaments
Published: December 20, 2025
Duration: ~50 minutes (main conversation)

Episode Overview

In this episode of the New Books Network, host Chris Odiniec interviews Juan Domínguez about his new book, Knight, Monk, King, Prophet: A Christian Man’s Guide to the Four Temperaments. The discussion explores the ancient theory of the four temperaments, its roots in Christian and classical thought, and its practical application for spiritual growth, self-understanding, and male Catholic identity today. The conversation balances engaging personal anecdotes with theological reflection, aiming to illuminate how discovering and working with one’s temperament can aid in becoming a more virtuous, Christ-like person.

Key Points & Insights

1. Origins and Motivation for the Book

[06:31] Juan Domínguez recalls his journey:

• Began blogging about masculinity from a secular perspective, but realized a perfect model was needed—ultimately found in Jesus Christ.
• Rediscovered his Catholic faith through writing.
• Inspired by his well-formed Catholic fiancée and a close friend to explore the theory of the Four Temperaments, finding personal growth and clarity in the framework.
• Sees the project, blog, and book as living and evolving works.

"You couldn't write about healthy masculinity without Christ at the center."
– Juan Domínguez [08:17]

2. The Four Temperaments: An Overview

[13:01] Historical and Christian context:

• Choleric, Melancholic, Sanguine, Phlegmatic – theories from the Greeks, later adopted and developed by Christian thinkers, especially St. Thomas Aquinas.
• Each person is born with a predominant temperament, which predisposes (but doesn't determine) certain strengths, weaknesses, and temptations.

“You can, by knowing about this theory, seek to develop yourself in a more holistic manner... It's a clear roadmap to pursue holiness by developing all four temperaments.”
– Juan Domínguez [14:27]

3. The Four Archetypes Explained

(Juan links each temperament to an archetype in male Catholic life and provides practical descriptions.)

a) The Knight (Choleric)

[18:34] Driven, decisive, natural leader, virtuous but prone to pride and impatience:

• Example: His older brother, always leading and training, but sometimes lacking empathy or patience.
• Motto: "Do things my way."

b) The Monk (Phlegmatic)

[23:36] Even, peaceful, routine-loving, but struggling with sloth and lack of ambition:

• Archetype of quiet academics or contemplatives.
• Motto: "Let's do things the easy way."

c) The King (Sanguine)

[25:32] Social, energetic, extroverted ‘life of the party’, but susceptible to temptation and impulsiveness:

• Example: Friend who is a magician, loves being at the center.
• Motto: "Let's do things the fun way."

d) The Prophet (Melancholic)

[29:52] Deeply sensitive, creative, morally serious, but can be prone to despair and anxiety:

• Example: Juan himself; enjoys introspection and creativity but can tend towards hopelessness.
• Motto: "Let's do things the right way."

"Many people use temperamental and other theories of personality to just use it as an excuse... That's not why we do this."
– Juan Domínguez [19:36]

4. Application: Growth in Virtue, Not Excuses

[32:37] Self-knowledge as the path to Christ-likeness:

• Recognizing both strengths and weaknesses to work toward balance and sanctity.
• The goal: Becoming a “balanced version of all four, so that your archetype almost disappears” in pursuit of Christ, "the perfect balance of the four temperaments."
• Importance of changing and maturing one’s temperament over a lifetime.

"If your personality is not changing throughout the years, I would say you're doing something wrong."
– Juan Domínguez [34:28]

5. Gender, Archetypes, and Tradition

[37:27] Are there female equivalents?

• Juan focused on male archetypes due to his research focus, but acknowledges the temperaments also apply to women.
• Notes a gap in Catholic resources concerning female archetypes and leaves it as an open invitation for women to develop these further.

6. Practical Use: Self-love, Community, and Conversion

[42:45] Four ways to use temperament theory:

1. Self-acceptance: See yourself as God made you, unique but imperfect, and striving toward who you could become.
2. Identify weaknesses: Use knowledge of temperament to fight specific sins and grow in virtue.
3. Build up the community: Understand others' strengths and weaknesses to complement each other in the Church.
4. Path to holiness: Treat temperament not as destiny, but as a tool for spiritual growth.

“To accept yourself means to look at who you are but also who you could be... as long as you are walking uphill towards virtue... who you are is who you're supposed to be.”
– Juan Domínguez [42:03, quoted by Chris Odiniec]

7. Navigating Catholic Community

[44:38] Complementary strengths in the Church, not isolation:

• Catholic spiritual growth is communal; diverse temperaments are meant to build up the Body of Christ together.

8. Upcoming Projects

[47:44] What's next?

• Expanded edition of Knight, Monk, King, Prophet expected in 2026.
• New initiatives and resources for Catholic men’s formation under the evolving SimpleMen brand.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Change:
  “You want... the peace of the monk with the social capabilities of the king and the depth of thought of the prophet. So they should change... if your personality is not changing... you’re doing something wrong.”
  – Juan Domínguez [02:04, restated at 34:28]

• On the Purpose of Temperament Theory:
  "Temperamental theory is only beneficial if you use that self-knowledge to draw nearer to Christ."
  – Chris Odiniec [15:24, quoting Juan Domínguez's book]

• On Community:
  “We are all crooked timbers. But with enough crooked timbers, you can build something very straight.”
  – Chris Odiniec [44:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:31–11:46 | Juan’s background and journey to writing the book | | 13:01–15:24 | Introducing the Four Temperaments and their Christian use | | 18:34–32:37 | In-depth walkthrough of each temperament/archetype | | 32:37–34:38 | Change and development across a man’s life; female archetypes | | 42:45–47:44 | Applying temperament theory: self-love, virtue, community | | 47:44–49:36 | Juan’s future projects and SimpleMen evolution | | 49:47–50:39 | Closing prayer |

Final Reflections

The conversation frames the Four Temperaments not as rigid categories, but as starting-points for honest self-reflection and growth in virtue. Domínguez distinguishes his approach from secular personality theories by rooting it in the Christian journey toward holiness and the imitation of Christ, urging men especially to integrate strengths from each archetype into a balanced, maturing self.

Invitation:
Those interested in men’s formation, Catholic virtue ethics, or personality theory through a faith lens will find Knight, Monk, King, Prophet engaging and practical. The episode is an invitation to use self-knowledge for personal sanctification and as a tool to build a more complementary, Christ-centered community.

Guest Contacts and Book Info:

• Book: Knight, Monk, King, Prophet (available on Amazon)
• Blog and upcoming resources: simplemenblog.substack.com