Studying history and philosophy shows that human nature remains constant, with the same virtues and vices across millennia. For instance, individuals from more than 2,000 years ago were fraught with greed and the Stoic virtue of temperance was meant to rein in their impulses. Of the four cardinal Stoic virtues, temperance may be the most misunderstood. It is not about austerity or denial, but about the art of moderation— living with intention rather than impulse.

A reverend I know says that when we go beyond the guardrails in life, suffering usually ensues. When you step outside your marriage, for instance, and have an affair, it will likely end your marriage. Drinking in excess will cause all types of physical problems. The ancient Greeks knew this, especially the Stoics, since they stressed the ability to moderate as essential to living a good life.

A culture of consumption

This impulse to live beyond our means isn’t new, but it thrives in today’s world of instant gratification—DoorDash, buy-now- pay-later culture—and limitless credit. We had neighbors once who had a movie theatre inside their house and other luxuries. At the time, they could afford it. Yet I also thought: just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should have it. (I can hear my dad saying this when I was a child.) I suggest watching the Netflix documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy—it shows the dark side of our overconsumption.

Stepping beyond the guardrail of moderation, Americans consume 30% of the world’s resources while representing just 4% of the global population. Our savings habits have deteriorated, with savings rates plummeting over the last few decades. One clear indicator of our “more, more, more” attitude is the rise in home sizes—from around 1,500 square feet in the 1970s to 2,300 in 2023.

Ancient Rome’s cautionary tale

Ancient Rome had similar problems with overconsumption—especially among the elite. Rome’s wealthiest citizens hoarded resources while many lived modestly. In Letter 51, Seneca describes the decadence of Baiae, a luxurious resort town on the Gulf of Naples. It was a playground for aristocrats, senators, and emperors.

Hedonism ran rampant in Baiae, and Seneca scorned the city, warning that such excess erodes moral character. Yielding to pleasure, in his view, was a deeper failure than simply being tempted by it. Seneca also saw these patterns up close: he was tutor to Nero, whose extravagance and cruelty came to define the fall of Roman virtue. Seneca tried to instill restraint with Nero, only to watch his pupil’s extravagance and cruelty spiral, perhaps feeling it as a personal failure.

These same excesses still exist. In June, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos arrived in Venice, Italy aboard a $500 million yacht to host a wedding reportedly costing close to $50 million. Meanwhile, handbags like the Hermès Birkin sell for over $100,000. Lavish weddings and mega-yachts aren’t new. Ancient Rome had Baiae; modern America has Bezos. What matters is not the price tag, but what we choose to glorify. Is it restraint, or spectacle? Is our ideal Marcus Aurelius—or Nero?

Boring wins championships

This brings to mind the quote, “boring wins championships.” It means that staying disciplined—doing the necessary work day-to-day, year after year—is often the best path to long-term success. In personal finance, that might look like consistent saving through a 401(k) or index fund. The goal isn’t excitement; it’s balance.

This mirrors Warren Buffett’s approach: steady, disciplined investments in stable companies often outperform trend-chasing speculation. Buffett is the antithesis of Bezos. He lives in the same modest home in Nebraska. It wouldn’t shock me if he even cut his own grass!

The same is true in athletics or any serious pursuit: consistency and fundamentals, not flashiness, lead to sustained excellence. Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban—the most successful in college football history—emphasized “The Process”: focusing on execution and details rather than outcomes. Win each play, he said, and the final score takes care of itself. His players might have rolled their eyes at hearing about “The Process” constantly— but no one can argue that it didn’t work. Saban’s ‘Process’ reflects Stoic temperance in action: a relentless focus on what’s within your control, and a refusal to be distracted by short-term results or flashy rewards.

Temperance as freedom

For the Stoics, temperance wasn’t punishment—it was protection. In reining in excess, we gain a quieter form of happiness: stability, clarity, and control over ourselves. I’ve found that embracing a “boring” life of moderation—eating well, saving steadily, sleeping enough, thinking before speaking (really important!)—grants a kind of freedom the Stoics celebrated. When you stay within the guardrails, you’re far less likely to crash. We do our best to stay reasonable, and maintain a life of virtue.

No vice remains within its limits; luxury is precipitated into greed. We are overwhelmed with forgetfulness of that which is honourable. — Seneca, Letters, 95.33

Glenn Citerony is an Executive Wellness Coach who employs Stoic concepts to help improve people’s lives. He is passionate about Stoicism and its relevance to addressing today’s challenges. Glenn can be reached at glennciterony.com.

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