According to Aristotle, the middle way, the “μέσον πρὸς ἡμᾶς”, applies to every virtue; it is, in a sense, the essence of virtue. “Διὸ κατὰ μὲν τὴν οὐσίαν καὶ τὸν λόγον τὸν τὸ τί ἦν εἶναι λέγοντα μεσότης ἐστὶν ἡ ἀρετή” (“Ηθ. Νικ. 1107 a 5). (“That is why virtue, as far as its essence and the account stating what it is are concerned, is a mean”).

Aristotle argued that there is an essential relationship between happiness and virtue. One cannot be happy without being virtuous.                                                    Virtue, as well as happiness, consists in the “middle ground between two extremes”, between an excess and a deficiency.

Modesty is the middle ground between arrogance and pettiness, courage is the middle ground between audacity and cowardice, and so on. with all virtues. Every time we face a dilemma, we must, if we want our actions to have moral value and make us feel happy, to choose the middle way between two extremes, the “μέσον πρὸς ἡμᾶς”.

Difficult of course to weigh this middle way, personally and on a case-by-case basis. Often another, external look is also needed, maybe even some advice, as the case may be.

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