Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Moderation is praised to keep ambitious leaders in check and to comfort those with less success or talent.
- In plain terms
- Praising moderation limits powerful people and makes others feel better about their lack of success.
- What can you take from it?
- Be wary of calls for moderation that may suppress excellence or mask envy.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is moderation always a virtue or sometimes a constraint?
- Who benefits when ambition is limited?
Another view
The quote assumes moderation is primarily a tool of suppression rather than a genuine ethical good.
More from Benjamin Disraeli
Mediocrity can talk; but it is for genius to observe.
Permalink to quote #249 Plagiarists, at least, have the merit of preservation.
Permalink to quote #251 Let the fear of a danger be a spur to prevent it: he that fears otherwise, gives advantage to the danger.
Permalink to quote #248
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