Temperate temperance is best; intemperate temperance injures the cause of temperance.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Temperance is moderation in the things that are good and total abstinence from the things that are foul.
—Frances Willard (1839–98) American Women’s Rights, Temperance Activist
The superior man wishes to be slow in his words, and earnest in his conduct.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
It is better to rise from life as from a banquet—neither thirsty nor drunken.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Moderation is a fatal thing; nothing succeeds like excess.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; but urge me not to use moderation in a case like the present.
—William Lloyd Garrison (1805–79) American Journalist, Abolitionist
To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Moderation is a virtue only in those who are thought to have an alternative.
—Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) American Diplomat, Academician
Any plan conceived in moderation must fail when the circumstances are set in extremes.
—Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich (1773–1859) Austrian Diplomat, Statesman
There is a German proverb which says that “Take it easy,” and “Live long,” are brothers.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
That moderation which nature prescribes, which limits our desires by resources restricted to our needs, has abandoned the field; it has now come to this—that to want only what is enough is a sign both of boorishness and of utter destitution.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation, has an unstable foundation.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
The choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation.
—Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810–89) English Poet, Writer
Mistrust the man who finds everything good; the man who finds everything evil; and still more the man who is indifferent to everything.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Moderate profits fill the purse.
—Italian Proverb
It is a little stream which flows softly, but it freshens everything along its course.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
It speaks volumes for a person that when placed in quite different situations, they display the same spirit of moderation.
—Unknown
Tranquil pleasures last the longest; we are not fitted to bear long the burden of great joys.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Moderation must not claim the merit of combating and conquering ambition; for they can never exist in the same subject. Moderation is the languor and sloth of the soul; ambition its activity and ardor.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
You will go most safely in the middle.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
When a man is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits … he has gained facts, learned his ignorance, is cured of the insanity of conceit, has got moderation and real skill.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Out of moderation a pure happiness springs.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean: superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
That is mediocrity though it be called moderation.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Eat and drink to live; live not to eat and drink, for thus do the beasts.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Let not turn fun to mischief.
—Common Proverb
He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Moderation resembles temperance. We are not so unwilling to eat more, as afraid of doing ourselves harm by it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The horse fed too freely with oats oft becomes unruly.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Leave a Reply