But though our present account is of this nature we must give what help we can. First, then, let us consider this, that it is the nature of such things to be destroyed by defect and excess, as we see in the case of strength and of health (for to gain light on things imperceptible we must use the evidence of sensible things); both excessive and defective6 exercise destroys the strength, and similarly drink or food which is above or below a certain amount destroys the health, while that which is proportionate both produces and increases and preserves it. So too is it, then, in the case of temperance and courage and the other virtues. For the man who flies from and fears everything and does not stand his ground against anything becomes a coward, and the man who fears nothing at all but goes to meet every danger becomes rash; and similarly the man who indulges in every pleasure and abstains8 from none becomes self-indulgent, while the man who shuns9 every pleasure, as boors10 do, becomes in a way insensible; temperance and courage, then, are destroyed by excess and defect, and preserved by the mean.
But not only are the sources and causes of their origination and growth the same as those of their destruction, but also the sphere of their actualization will be the same; for this is also true of the things which are more evident to sense, e.g. of strength; it is produced by taking much food and undergoing much exertion11, and it is the strong man that will be most able to do these things. So too is it with the virtues; by abstaining12 from pleasures we become temperate13, and it is when we have become so that we are most able to abstain7 from them; and similarly too in the case of courage; for by being habituated to despise things that are terrible and to stand our ground against them we become brave, and it is when we have become so that we shall be most able to stand our ground against them.

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收听单词发音

1
inquiry
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n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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2
virtue
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n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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3
virtues
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美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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4
precisely
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adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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5
precept
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n.戒律;格言 | |
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6
defective
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adj.有毛病的,有问题的,有瑕疵的 | |
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7
abstain
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v.自制,戒绝,弃权,避免 | |
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8
abstains
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戒(尤指酒),戒除( abstain的第三人称单数 ); 弃权(不投票) | |
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9
shuns
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v.避开,回避,避免( shun的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
boors
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n.农民( boor的名词复数 );乡下佬;没礼貌的人;粗野的人 | |
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11
exertion
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n.尽力,努力 | |
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12
abstaining
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戒(尤指酒),戒除( abstain的现在分词 ); 弃权(不投票) | |
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13
temperate
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adj.温和的,温带的,自我克制的,不过分的 | |
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