“Temperance concerns touch and taste—pleasures common to beasts.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, Chapter 10
(Translated by W.D. Ross)
Big Idea
Self-control is like training a puppy 🐶：
- 🦴 Beast Mode = Gobble all treats at once → Sick belly.
- 🧠 Human Wisdom = Save some for later → Happy tail wags.
Real-Life Scenarios
🍟 Fast Food Frenzy
→ Beastly：Eat entire family-size fries → Regret + nap.
→ Temperate：Split fries + share → Enjoy guilt-free.
🛍️ Black Friday Madness
→ Beastly：Camp outside for 4K TV → Debt + divorce papers.
→ Temperate：Buy needed socks online → Peace + savings.
📱 Binge-Watching Trap
→ Beastly：Watch 10 eps until 3 AM → Red eyes, fired job.
→ Temperate：Set “1 episode” limit → Promoted for fresh ideas.
What You Can Do
- The “Animal Test”
Ask before acting:- “Is this what a hungry raccoon 🦝 or wise human 👩🔬 would do?”
- Sensory Swap
Replace 1 base pleasure with 1 elevated joy:
→ Cheetos crunch → Apple slices + almond butter.
→ Cheap beer → Herbal tea ceremony. - Beast Mode Journal
Track daily choices:
Monday：Ate whole pizza → Felt sluggish (Raccoon Mode ❌)
Tuesday：Shared tacos → Made friends (Human Mode ✅)