Henry Mayhew Quotes

Temperance is moderation in the things that are good and total abstinence from the things that are foul.

Temperance is a mean with regard to pleasures.

A total abstainer is one who abstains from everything but abstention, and especially from inactivity in the affairs of others.

Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness.

Moderation is a virtue only in those who are thought to have an alternative.

It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.

Temper your enjoyments with prudence, lest there be written on your heart that fearful word 'satiety.'

Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of good in them and require moderate use rather than total abstinence.

If what the heart approves conforms to proper patterns, then even if one's desires are many, what harm would they be to good order?

As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake.

Fortunately, the Canadian people in all their habits, are essentially a temperate people.

Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.

I'm not conservative, but I am kind of clean living in my own life.

A good heavy book holds you down. It's an anchor that keeps you from getting up and having another gin and tonic.

When sages commend excess, Desire is sick.

So I cut out all the drinkin' and hangin' out and stuff like that early on.

It is best to rise from life as from a banquet, neither thirsty nor drunken.

Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.

All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.

Everything must be carried out in extreme sobriety.

Here's a rule I recommend: Never practice two vices at once.

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.

I don't smoke, drink, do drugs or even have affairs. If I don't even swear, I should be put in a shrine and sanctified.

We've led pretty wholesome lives. We haven't lived life to excess like so many groups have done.