Moderation

My Master speaks only when he has something to say, laughs only when happy, takes only what is needed.  This way he angers nobody. 

The higher the rank I attain, the more humbly I behave.  The greater my power, the less I exercise it.  The richer my wealth, the more I give away.  Thus I avoid envy, spite and misery.

Do as a thirsty person drinking from a river.  He drinks happily enough, but does not covet the voluminous flow . . . This is how the gentleman exercises his mind for he regards rank and position as a tumor and material wealth as dirt and dust.  What is the use of wealth and honor to him?

A little of what you fancy does you good.

The only thing worse for a child than getting everything his heart desires
is getting nothing his heart desires.

A well-governed appetite is a great part of liberty.

The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.

The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.

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.

There are many shining qualities on the mind of man; but none so useful as discretion. It is this which gives a value to all the rest, and sets them at work in their proper places, and turns them to the advantage of their possessor. Without it, learning is pedantry; wit, impertinence; virtue itself looks like weakness; and the best parts only qualify a man to be more sprightly in errors, and active to his own prejudice. Though a man has all other perfections and wants discretion, he will be of no great consequence in the world; but if he has this single talent in perfection, and but a common share of others, he may do what he pleases in his station of life.

Temperance is moderation in the things that are good and total abstinence from the things that are foul.

It is the sign of a great mind to dislike greatness, and prefer things in measure to things in excess.

It is better to rise from life as from a banquet -- neither thirsty nor drunken.

Exactness and neatness in moderation is a virtue, but carried to extremes narrows the mind.

Only action gives life strength, only moderation gives it charm.

Out of moderation a pure happiness springs.