1945 Quote by Aleister Crowley
““There is great danger in this Golden Mean, one of whose main objects is to steer clear of shipwreck, Scylla being as fatal as Charybdis. No, this lofty and equable attitude is worse than wrong unless it derives from striking the balance between two very distant opposites. One of the worst perils of the present time is that, in the reaction against ignorant bigotry, people no longer dare to make up their minds about anything. The very practice, which the A∴A∴ so strongly and persistently advocates, tends to make people feel that any positive attitude or gesture is certainly wrong, whatever may be right. They forget that the opposite may, within the limit of the universe of discourse , amount to nothing. […] Of course, in no case does the Golden Mean advise hesitating, trimming, hedging, compromising; the very object of ensuring an exact balance in your weapon is that its blow may be clean and certain.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of the Law, 1904
Extremes are dangerous; true balance requires decisive, precise action, not indecision.
In simple terms: Avoid vague moderation; act decisively.
Key Takeaway
Choose a clear, firm stance.
Themes
balance
extremes
decisiveness
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- personal decisions
- conflict resolution
- creative work
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a middle ground truly beneficial?
- How can you ensure decisive action remains ethical?
A Different Perspective
Risk of oversimplifying complex issues.
![“We [of Thelema] are whole-hearted extroverts; the penalty of restricting one self is anything from neurosis to down right lunacy; in particular, melancholia.” quote by Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3f0/aleister-crowley-1100_1945_we-of-thelema-are-whole-hearted-extrover_1630425.jpg)