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 virtue only in those who are thought to have an alternative.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
It’s best to rise from life like a banquet, neither thirsty or drunken.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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
The horse fed too freely with oats oft becomes unruly.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
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 go beyond the bounds of moderation is to outrage humanity. The greatness of the human soul is shown by knowing how to keep within proper bounds. So far from greatness consisting in going beyond its limits, it really consists in keeping within them.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Only action gives life strength, only moderation gives it charm.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
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
To live long it is necessary to live slowly.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
It is a little stream which flows softly, but it freshens everything along its course.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Howsoever varied the courses of our life, whatsoever the phases of pleasure and ambition through which it has swept along, still, when in memory we would revive the times that were comparatively the happiest, those times will be found to have been the calmest.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Keep a mid course between two extremes.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
The pursuit, even of the best things, ought to be calm and tranquil.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Temperate temperance is best; intemperate temperance injures the cause of temperance.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I knew a wise man who had for a byword, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, “stay a little, that we may come to the end sooner.”
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Moderation is an ostentatious proof of our strength of character.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Let a man take time enough for the most trival deed, though it be but the paring of his nails. The buds swell imperceptibly, without hurry or confusion, as if the short spring days were an eternity.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
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
The sensible man drinks only when he is thirsty.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Moderate profits fill the purse.
—Italian Proverb
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
It is certainly a very important lesson, to learn how to enjoy ordinary things, and to be able to relish your being, without the transport of some passion, or the gratification of some appetite.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
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
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Fortify yourself with moderation; for this is an impregnable fortress.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Any plan conceived in moderation must fail when the circumstances are set in extremes.
—Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich (1773–1859) Austrian Political leader, Politician