Virtues of Character

Temperance

This is about our relationship to ourselves. Here, we hold back from our immediate and often impulsive wants and focus on our long term needs. It enables us to see things for what they really are; sorting out our real needs from the ones we think we have. Of everything, the temperate person asks: will this really satisfy and fulfil me? This prevents illusion about the various pleasures of life; it also makes sure that we do not expect more of things or people than they can reasonably give. Temperance orders our pleasures, it sets reasonable limits to them. We can see beyond the moment to the long term good.

Challenges to this: Addiction. Addiction happens when we seek our complete happiness in some natural good, when we become totally dependent on it. We can be addicted to anything: computer games, shopping, texting, drink, drugs, sex, gambling, money or political power. Addiction is about looking for total satisfaction in the wrong place; because it doesn't satisfy, we are left feeling empty, being forced to do it again and again. To be caught in the grip of addiction is to seek more and more of what cannot in its nature satisfy us. Our whole culture encourages addiction: it tries to make possible the quickest possible impulse satisfaction. You can have whatever pleasure you want right away! Why wait?!