Chase The Kangaroo

A Clear Head in a Foggy World

“Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin began his 13-week pursuit of virtue with temperance for a reason. It wasn’t arbitrary. He believed that without it, no other virtue could take root. Temperance created the conditions for clarity, focus, and self-mastery. In his own words:

“Temperance first, as it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up.”

Franklin wasn’t advocating for asceticism or moral guilt. He was after lucidity: mental, physical, and spiritual. Overindulgence, in his view, dulled the senses and weakened resolve. The body was a steward of the mind, and the mind the captain of the soul.

But temperance wasn’t unique to Franklin.

The Stoics called it sōphrosynē – a cardinal virtue of soul-deep harmony. To Epictetus, self-control was synonymous with freedom:

“No man is free who is not master of himself.”

Seneca taught that pleasure isn’t evil, but must be ruled by reason. Marcus Aurelius described the soul as a well-ordered city where every part fulfills its role under the governance of the rational mind.

C.S. Lewis noticed how misunderstood temperance had become:

“Temperance referred not especially to drink, but to all pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going the right length and no further.”

In contrast, today temperance is rarely mentioned and when it is, it’s often miscast. It sounds like something out of a Puritan sermon or a dusty lecture. But in an age of overconsumption, temperance is not just relevant, it’s countercultural. Not only with food or drink, but with media, distraction, outrage, and noise.

Temperance asks:

What are you consuming and what is consuming you?

Are you stewarding your life or surrendering it to appetite?

Before I could answer those questions honestly, I had to live with them for a week.

Why Am I Doing This? Why Now?

This is something I’ve read about and been meaning to do for a while. My recent 7-day news fast became the catalyst. That experience revealed how my mind responded to one simple act of restraint. It didn’t just lower my anxiety, it opened up room for better focus and peace.

That fast helped me see that my need for temperance wasn’t limited to the news. In today’s world, we can overindulge in nearly anything. At the click of a button, we can have whatever we want, whether it is food, opinions, outrage, distraction, things.

On one hand, that’s a bold testament to our technological progress. On the other, our patience is vanishing, and our anxiety is skyrocketing.

I’m not chasing perfection, but I’m also no longer content to be led here and there by my own whims. I’m trying…needing to take a closer look at my values.

Where is the dust and rust?

What needs attention?

What needs an overhaul?

What Did “Temperance” Mean to Me Before This?

Before I started, I probably understood temperance the way C.S. Lewis described it. I’ve read enough of him to recognize his influence. I thought of temperance mostly as moderation, not just with food or drink, but anything pleasurable. It was the familiar adage: “Too much of a good thing…”

Too much sun and you get burned. Too much ice cream and you get sick. I understood temperance as avoiding excess to prevent regret.

But in researching this virtue, something clicked:

Temperance doesn’t just spare us from harm, it helps us receive joy more clearly.

It guards appreciation, clarity of thought, emotions, health, and well-being. When we govern our appetites, good things multiply. When we exercise temperance, it ripples outward, benefiting not just ourselves, but those around us.

Think of your influence, think of how many people quietly look to you to be clear-minded, steady, self-controlled.

It’s more than you think.

My Struggle with Temperance

My struggle wasn’t obvious at first. I started the week aware of how much I was eating and what I was eating. My news fast was still fresh, so I had some built-in momentum there and continued enjoying the peace that came with less media exposure.

Where temperance surprised me was in my use of time.

Was I spending too much time following the summer of soccer, watching matches I wasn’t invested in? Was I glued to Wimbledon when I could’ve been walking my dog, working on creative projects, or being more present at work?

None of those activities are wrong. Entertainment is good. But the real question was:

Was I in control of my time or was it in control of me?

Was I “going the right length and no further,” as Lewis put it?

This exercise gave me space to look honestly at my rhythms and routines (or lack there of). Temperance, I discovered, creates awareness and alignment. It helps filter noise and focus attention.

The result? I’m a little clearer, a little more balanced and a little more committed to the path ahead.

Key Aspects of Temperance

• Moderation: Temperance advocates for a “mean” between extremes, avoiding both overindulgence (like gluttony) and deprivation. 
• Self-Control: It is the capacity to control one’s mind, emotions, and appetites, preventing them from leading to irrational or harmful actions. 
• Rightly Ordered Desires: The goal is to desire finite goods (food, pleasure, wealth) in the right way, time, and measure, ensuring they serve higher goods and align with reason. 
• Freedom from Passions: By practicing temperance, one gains freedom from being controlled by fleeting emotions or bodily impulses, leading to a more stable and liberated self. 

Examples of Temperance in Practice

• Diet: Eating just enough to nourish the body rather than gorging. 
• Work and Leisure: Balancing diligent effort with appropriate periods of rest and amusement. 
• Emotions: Remaining calm in the face of adversity, not letting pride or jealousy take hold. 
• Professional Life: Being punctual and using time efficiently, rather than being distracted by excessive amusement. 
• Digital Habits: Limiting screen time to avoid its potential to undermine attention and diligence. 

Developing the Virtue

• Practice Moderation: Consistently exercise restraint in various aspects of life, from eating to leisure. 
• Cultivate Self-Awareness: Understand your personal temptations and impulses so you can consciously choose to fight against them. 
• Form Habits: Implement “rules of life” that involve specific, consistent acts of self-denial to train your will and make self-control easier. 
• Focus on Higher Goods: Recognize that moderating physical appetites helps to strengthen your will, enabling you to pursue more noble goals and spiritual growth. 

Why Does It Matter?

Considering the lists above, what will it cost you to practice temperance in your daily life? Every time we choose to create a new habit or change a behavior, it comes with a cost. We are giving something up to make room for this new thing.

What will you be sacrificing, if you don’t pursue temperance?

It matters because even trying to improve an aspect of your life by just 1%, means you are on the way to a 1% better you. Doesn’t seem like much, but this is one of those compounding things that pays off in the long run. Don’t plan on knocking this out of the park on day 1 or even on day 366. Don’t let missing the mark discourage you either, because you will miss the mark…a lot. If you aren’t, you aren’t being honest. The mere fact you are considering taking a look at temperance in your life, means you are headed down a better path. And if it isn’t obvious, everyone around you benefit from a better you.

Franklin’s Virtue Series