“Do all in moderation” can sound ascetic, life-denying. Me genoito !
Moderation is an aesthetic term, and as an ethical standard combines aesthetic and moral criteria. It’s a musical ideal. Moderatus is linked to modus , measure, limit, rhythm, song.
Epieikes in Philippians 4:5 is “suitable, fitting,” built from eikos , reasonable, that is, what is a proper eikon , what conforms to the pattern on the mountain.
“Be moderate” means “modulate.” It means doing things in the right mode. It means harmonizing this and that so that life is not dominated by one note, chord, or key.
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