Page 175 of 734

But the man of Perfected Self-Mastery is in the mean with respect

to these objects: that is to say, he neither takes pleasure in

the things which delight the vicious man, and in fact rather

dislikes them, nor at all in improper objects; nor to any great

degree in any object of the class; nor is he pained at their

absence; nor does he desire them; or, if he does, only in

moderation, and neither more than he ought, nor at improper

times, and so forth; but such things as are conducive to health

and good condition of body, being also pleasant, these he will

grasp at in moderation and as he ought to do, and also such other

pleasant things as do not hinder these objects, and are not

unseemly or disproportionate to his means; because he that should

grasp at such would be liking such pleasures more than is proper;

but the man of Perfected Self-Mastery is not of this character,

but regulates his desires by the dictates of right reason.

Chapter XIV.