--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Keep to the middle if you wish to keep…" description: "\"Keep to the middle if you wish to keep moderation. The mid way is the safe way. Moderation abides in the mean, and moderation is virtue. Every abiding ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/saint-bernard-23894_man_keep-to-the-middle-if-you-wish-to-keep-m_526928.jpg" --- # Keep to the middle if you wish to keep moderation. The mid… ![“Keep to the middle if you wish to keep moderation. The mid way is the safe way. Moderation abides in the mean, and moderation is virtue. Every abiding place outside the bounds of moderation is only exile to the wise man.” quote by Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/saint-bernard-23894_man_keep-to-the-middle-if-you-wish-to-keep-m_526928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/saint-bernard-23894_man_keep-to-the-middle-if-you-wish-to-keep-m_526928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/saint-bernard-23894_man_keep-to-the-middle-if-you-wish-to-keep-m_526928.jpg) > “Keep to the middle if you wish to keep moderation. The mid way is the safe way. Moderation abides in the mean, and moderation is virtue. Every abiding place outside the bounds of moderation is only exile to the wise man.” [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balanced living avoids extremes; moderation is a wise, virtuous path. **In simple terms:** The middle way is safe and virtuous. Key Takeaway Seek balance in actions. Themes moderation virtue wisdom Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - diet - work-life balance - financial planning Key Concepts golden mean ethical living Questions to Reflect On - Is moderation always best? - When might risk be necessary? A Different Perspective Extreme positions can also yield breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderation/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [I mean, moderation, not deprivation. That's my new way of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carnie-wilson/i-mean-moderation-not-deprivation-that-s-my-new-way-of-living/) [Carnie Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carnie-wilson/) > [Exactness and neatness in moderation is a virtue, but carried to extremes narrows the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/exactness-and-neatness-in-moderation-is-a-virtue-but-carried-to/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Moderation is a virtue only in those who are thought to have an alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/moderation-is-a-virtue-only-in-those-who-are-thought-to-have-an/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. 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Who so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/there-is-a-proper-measure-in-all-things-certain-limits-beyond-which/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“A life lived in moderation is a story nobody would read, much less live”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-keene/a-life-lived-in-moderation-is-a-story-nobody-would-read-much-less-live/) D.A. Keene > [The boundary of man is moderation. When once we pass that pale our guardian angel quits his charge of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/the-boundary-of-man-is-moderation-when-once-we-pass-that-pale-our/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Phillip, who is congenitally incapable of moderation,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/phillip-who-is-congenitally-incapable-of-moderation/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as long as things are going tolerably well or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/there-has-been-a-tendency-through-the-years-for-reason-and-moderation/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) ## More by Saint Bernard > [God removes the sin of the one who makes humble confession, and thereby the devil loses the sovereignty he had gained over the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/god-removes-the-sin-of-the-one-who-makes-humble-confession-and/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [I myself, however wretched I may be, have been occasionally privileged to sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and to the extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/i-myself-however-wretched-i-may-be-have-been-occasionally-privileged/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [That heart alone is hard which does not shudder at itself for not feeling its hardness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/that-heart-alone-is-hard-which-does-not-shudder-at-itself-for-not/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [The mind must first reflect upon itself in order that it may frame a rule of Justice, and not be inclined to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/the-mind-must-first-reflect-upon-itself-in-order-that-it-may-frame-a/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [The impudence of the sinner displeases God as much as the modesty of the penitent gives him pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/the-impudence-of-the-sinner-displeases-god-as-much-as-the-modesty-of/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Charity never lacks what is her own, all that she needs for her own security. 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Learn a love that is tender, wise, strong; love with tenderness, not passion, wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/christian-learn-from-christ-how-you-ought-to-love-christ-learn-a-love/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Custom turns everything upside down. Give it time, and what can resist its hardening effect? What does not yield to use? How many find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/custom-turns-everything-upside-down-give-it-time-and-what-can-resist/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Even the holy men who lived before the coming of Christ understood that God had in mind plans of peace for the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/even-the-holy-men-who-lived-before-the-coming-of-christ-understood/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Is anything, in all respects, so influential as consideration? Does it not, by a kindly anticipation, create the divisions of the active life itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/is-anything-in-all-respects-so-influential-as-consideration-does-it/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [We seek for truth in ourselves; in our neighbours, and in its essential nature. We find it first in ourselves by severe self scrutiny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/we-seek-for-truth-in-ourselves-in-our-neighbours-and-in-its-essential/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Knowledge is sometimes superfluous: when we need it, we have it not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/knowledge-is-sometimes-superfluous-when-we-need-it-we-have-it-not/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Truly, love is delightful and pleasant food, supplying, as it does, rest to the weary, strength to the weak, and joy to the sorrowful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/truly-love-is-delightful-and-pleasant-food-supplying-as-it-does-rest/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) [Explore all 25 Saint Bernard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) ## More Man quotes > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. 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