“Neither should a ship depend on a single anchor, nor life be sustained by a single hope,” said Socrates.
Philoteknos (359c) writes:
Thus, in human beings it is necessary that pleasure and pain—and all other passions, especially sorrow—be integrated within them. Aesop expresses this as well:
“The clay with which Prometheus shaped man was not softened with water, but with tears.”
To uproot the passions would be impossible; however, to restrain, calm, and control them with the mind is achievable. When guided in this way, passions can become useful and beneficial instead of harmful. Nature has woven them into us for survival: anger for defense, desire for food and drink for nourishment—each passion serving a necessary function.
Yet all must remain within measure, for virtue is the measure of all things:
courage governs emotion, temperance governs desire, generosity and magnificence govern love of wealth, and greatness of soul governs those unmoved by honor and power.
If passions are not guided by reason, they become wild and destructive, like poisonous thorns, harming both others and oneself. Therefore, they require cultivation. Each passion lies between two extremes—deficiency and excess—and must be regulated according to nature and reason.
Commentary
- Sexual desire exists for the continuation of the human species.
- Homosexuality is presented here as contrary to nature and harmful.
- While modern societies promote tolerance and individual freedom, it is argued that no group should impose its views on the majority, especially in education.
- Harmful passions include excesses such as drunkenness, smoking, drug use, overeating, greed, and all forms of fanaticism—political, ideological, or religious.
- Hunger serves nourishment, but excess leads to harm; the same applies to all passions when uncontrolled.
- A modern passion is addiction to technology. While useful, it should not dominate our time or harm our mental, emotional, and physical well-being (e.g., dangerous behavior like distracted driving).
- Technology was meant to ease human labor, but in the hands of profiteers it has become a burden.
- In the past, people relied directly on nature for survival. Today, without income for basic needs (water, electricity, food), one faces severe hardship or dependence on society.
Final Conclusion
With rising prices and disrupted supply chains due to wars and other factors, humanity is facing extreme conditions, and many people are vulnerable.
Therefore, we must address these challenges with reason before it is too late. Instead, power often lies in the hands of opportunists, unstable leaders, and authoritarian figures who act without accountability.
This world has no future unless it changes course. A return to the spirit of Greek thought is urged. (5/4/26)
Amphiktyon A – Retired Major General Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Writer, Member of the Society of Greek Writers
http://www.amphiktyon.blogspot.com
https://www.amphiktyon.org
