Abstaining Quote by C. S. Lewis
“Temperance referred not abstaining, but going the right length and no further...of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or any Christian, at a particular time, to abstain from strong drink, either because he is the sort of man who cannot drink at all without drinking too much, or because he wants to give the money to the poor, or because he is with people who are inclined to drunkenness and must not encourage them by drinking himself. But the whole point he is abstaining, for a good reason, from something he does not condemn and which he likes to see other people enjoying.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis, 1942
Temperance means choosing a moderate, appropriate amount rather than total abstinence, guided by personal responsibility and context.
In simple terms: Moderation over total denial.
Key Takeaway
Choose balance based on circumstance.
Themes
self‑control
responsibility
contextual ethics
Mood
thoughtful
balanced
Type
moral
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal health decisions
- charitable giving
- social influence
- peer pressure
- family habits
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
moderation theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When is moderation insufficient?
- How do personal limits differ from societal norms?
A Different Perspective
May be misinterpreted as permissiveness, ignoring risks of excess.
![“Phil [Wood] was very passionate. Very committed. He felt very blessed that the people that cared about him and took him aside... if he was out of line or drinking too much, being too surly.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/802/jon-gordon-1655_blessed_phil-wood-was-very-passionate-very-commi_1490080.jpg)
