modestia

1. Modus, in a moral sense, denotes the μέτριον, or the included notion of the μηδὲν ἄγαν in objective relation; modestia and moderatio, in subjective relation; Modestia is the feeling of preference for this modus; moderatio, the habit of acting in conformity to this feeling. 2. Moderatio is moderation, as springing from the understanding, from calculation and reflection, akin to prudentia; temperatio and temperantia are qualities pervading the whole man, and ennobling his whole being, akin to sapientia. Moderatio supposes, like self-government, a conflict between the passions and reason, in which reason comes off conqueror; in temperatio, as in tranquillity of mind, the reason is already in possession of superiority, whether through nature or moral worth. 3. Temperatus, temperatio, denote merely a laudable property, which may belong even to things; whereas temperans, temperantia, a virtue of which reasonable beings alone are capable. 4. Moderatio denotes moderation in action, in opp. to cupiditas; whereas continentia, moderation in enjoyment, in opp. to libido, Cic. Cat. ii. 11, 25. Verr. iv. 52. 5. Continentia denotes command over sensual desires, continence; abstinentia, over the desire for that which belongs to another, firm integrity; the translation of abstinentia by ‘disinterestedness,’ is not precise enough, for this virtue is required by morality only, abstinentia, by law also. Quintil. v. 10, 89. Cic. Sext. 16. 6. Modestia shuns overstepping the right measure, out of regard to the morals which the modus prescribes; whereas verecundia and reverentia out of regard to persons, whom the verecundus is afraid of displeasing, and whom the reverens thinks worthy of respect; lastly, pudor, out of self-respect, that one may not bring one’s self into contempt. Varro, ap. Non. Non te tui saltem pudet, si nihil mei revereare. Terent. Phorm. i. 5, 3. or ii. 1, 3. Non simultatem meam revereri? Saltem pudere? (ii. 203.)