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Hence the first rule in aiming at the mean is to avoid that extreme which is the more opposed to the mean, as Calypso advisesHom. Od. 12.219: really the words are said by Odysseus, conveying to his steersman Circe’s advice, to avoid the whirlpool of Charybdis which will engulf them all, and steer nearer to the monster Scylla who will devour only some of them.— Steer the ship clear of yonder spray and surge. For of the two extremes one is a more serious error than the other.
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Hence, inasmuch as to hit the mean extremely well is difficult,Or to hit the mean is extremely difficult. the second best way to sail,A proverb, meaning to take to the oars when the wind fails. as the saying goes, is to take the least of the evils; and the best way to do this will be the way we enjoin.
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The second rule is to notice what are the errors to which we are ourselves most prone (as different men are inclined by nature to different faults)—and we shall discover what these are by observing the pleasure or pain that we experience—;
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then we must drag ourselves away in the opposite direction, for by steering wide of our besetting error we shall make a middle course. This is the method adopted by carpenters to straighten warped timber.
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Thirdly, we must in everything be most of all on our guard against what is pleasant and against pleasure; for when pleasure is on her trial we are not impartial judges. The right course is therefore to feel towards pleasure as the elders of the people felt towards Helen,Hom. Il. 3.156-160. and to applyOr repeat. their words to her on every occasion; for if we roundly bid her be gone, we shall be less likely to err.
