--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knows to live who keeps the middle…" description: "\"He knows to live who keeps the middle state, and neither leans on this side nor on that.\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png" --- # He knows to live who keeps the middle state, and neither… ![“He knows to live who keeps the middle state, and neither leans on this side nor on that.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png) > “He knows to live who keeps the middle state, and neither leans on this side nor on that.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living well means maintaining balance, avoiding extremes on either side. **In simple terms:** Balance keeps you grounded. Key Takeaway Seek moderation in life. Themes balance moderation philosophy ethics Mood contemplative instructive Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - Ethical decision making - conflict resolution - well‑being Key Concepts Middle way equilibrium personal conduct Questions to Reflect On - When is it right to break the middle? - How does society define the “middle”? A Different Perspective Extreme positions can sometimes be necessary for justice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps/) [Keeps Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps-middle-1023075/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Live Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-keeps-1023077/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-state-1023074/) [Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderation/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [State Leans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-leans-1023076/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [Placed on this isthmus of a middle state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/placed-on-this-isthmus-of-a-middle-state/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I was never either pro-culture or counter-culture. I was in a kind of middle state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-was-never-either-pro-culture-or-counter-culture-i-was-in-a-kind-of/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I grew up in Danville, Illinois, right in the middle of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-grew-up-in-danville-illinois-right-in-the-middle-of-the-state/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [“she was passing Hays, Kansas, which was in the middle of the state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-akart/she-was-passing-hays-kansas-which-was-in-the-middle-of-the-state/) [Bobby Akart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-akart/) > [O grant me, Heaven, a middle state, Neither too humble nor too great; More than enough, for nature's ends, With something left to treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mallet/o-grant-me-heaven-a-middle-state-neither-too-humble-nor-too-great/) [David Mallet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mallet/) > [All nature's diff'rence keeps all nature's peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/all-nature-s-diff-rence-keeps-all-nature-s-peace/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Time is what keeps everything happening at once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/injel/time-is-what-keeps-everything-happening-at-once/) [Injel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/injel/) > [I've reread 'The Secret Garden' every year as an adult. I have a battered copy on my bookshelf - it's really quite a mess!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/i-ve-reread-the-secret-garden-every-year-as-an-adult-i-have-a/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [Seems like Americans just want it to be Halloween all year. The holiday just keeps getting more popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/seems-like-americans-just-want-it-to-be-halloween-all-year-the/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [I get angry if I do things wrong, but that's what keeps me going. I want to do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-manassero/i-get-angry-if-i-do-things-wrong-but-that-s-what-keeps-me-going-i/) [Matteo Manassero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-manassero/) > [My little boy, West, and my wife, they're my rock and that's the thing that keeps driving me to do better at what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/my-little-boy-west-and-my-wife-they-re-my-rock-and-that-s-the-thing/) [Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/) > [One tea cup a day keeps the stress away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/one-tea-cup-a-day-keeps-the-stress-away/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Further and further we go, and the sun keeps ironing us and ironing us and ironing us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/further-and-further-we-go-and-the-sun-keeps-ironing-us-and-ironing-us/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [I'm sure people see me as quiet and someone who keeps things to himself a little bit. I might be quiet, but there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-donald/i-m-sure-people-see-me-as-quiet-and-someone-who-keeps-things-to/) [Luke Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-donald/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Keeps quotes > [I'm sure people see me as quiet and someone who keeps things to himself a little bit. I might be quiet, but there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-donald/i-m-sure-people-see-me-as-quiet-and-someone-who-keeps-things-to/) [Luke Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-donald/) > [“Further and further we go, and the sun keeps ironing us and ironing us and ironing us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/further-and-further-we-go-and-the-sun-keeps-ironing-us-and-ironing-us/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [One tea cup a day keeps the stress away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/one-tea-cup-a-day-keeps-the-stress-away/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) > [My little boy, West, and my wife, they're my rock and that's the thing that keeps driving me to do better at what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/my-little-boy-west-and-my-wife-they-re-my-rock-and-that-s-the-thing/) [Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/) > [I get angry if I do things wrong, but that's what keeps me going. I want to do my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-manassero/i-get-angry-if-i-do-things-wrong-but-that-s-what-keeps-me-going-i/) [Matteo Manassero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-manassero/) > [Seems like Americans just want it to be Halloween all year. The holiday just keeps getting more popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/seems-like-americans-just-want-it-to-be-halloween-all-year-the/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [I've reread 'The Secret Garden' every year as an adult. I have a battered copy on my bookshelf - it's really quite a mess!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/i-ve-reread-the-secret-garden-every-year-as-an-adult-i-have-a/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [Time is what keeps everything happening at once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/injel/time-is-what-keeps-everything-happening-at-once/) [Injel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/injel/) > [That, who keeps his mouth, keeps his Soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/that-who-keeps-his-mouth-keeps-his-soul/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [I love what I do and I strive to be better; that's what keeps me going. I'm never a slacker, always a striver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/i-love-what-i-do-and-i-strive-to-be-better-that-s-what-keeps-me-going/) [Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/) > [Reminding myself that I have a tailbone keeps me in check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/reminding-myself-that-i-have-a-tailbone-keeps-me-in-check/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [Acting is therapy. It keeps you in contact with your feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/acting-is-therapy-it-keeps-you-in-contact-with-your-feelings/) [Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/) > [Well here's how I look at it, I've always been someone that's liked to have things on my plate, it just keeps me going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shavo-odadjian/well-here-s-how-i-look-at-it-i-ve-always-been-someone-that-s-liked-to/) [Shavo Odadjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shavo-odadjian/) > [I always say God doesn't need me, but I need Him in my life to survive in this world and over temptation. That's Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/i-always-say-god-doesn-t-need-me-but-i-need-him-in-my-life-to-survive/) [Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/) [Browse all 590 Keeps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He knows to live who keeps the middle state, and neither leans on this side nor on that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-state-and-neither-leans-on-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Keeps" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-state-and-neither-leans-on-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/alexander-pope-235_keeps_he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-st_2497074.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He knows to live who keeps the middle state, and neither leans on this side nor on that.” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He knows to live who keeps...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-state-and-neither-leans-on-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/he-knows-to-live-who-keeps-the-middle-state-and-neither-leans-on-this/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```