Aristotle contended that virtue lies between the extremes of excess (too much) and deficiency (too little), and that life can be viewed as a constant effort to aim for “the mean and what is right.” Indeed, it’s good to tend toward the middle.
Some of the most familiar expressions betray our understanding that “the mean and what is right” might lie between two different points of view, since so many of those expressions come in pairs. Indeed, which axiom in each of these contradictory pairs is true?
| Birds of a feather flock together. | Opposites attract. |
| The pen is mightier than the sword. | Actions speak louder than words. |
| He who hesitates is lost. | Look before you leap. |
| Many hands make light work. | Too many cooks spoil the broth. |
| Absence makes the heart grow fonder. | Out of sight, out of mind. |
| You’re never too old to learn. | You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. |
| Familiarity breeds contempt. | Home is where the heart is. |
| It’s better to be safe than sorry. | Nothing ventured, nothing gained. |
| Whatever will be will be. | Life is what you make it. |
| The best things in life are free. | You get what you pay for. |
Exactly. Both. Different circumstances call for different approaches and responses. Sometimes we need to be assured, “You’re special;” other times to hear, “You’re not special.” We understand that many axioms are extremes that surround the mean.
Moreover, each of us is like one of the blind men describing the elephant. We have only a piece of knowledge—part of an issue or a fragment of understanding—and being dogmatic only highlights our limitations. By using the extremes to point to what is right—the middle ground where we all can thrive—we become virtuous.
The Truth is in the Middle 