temperancia

Temperancia, or temperance, is the virtue of moderation and self-control in the management of one’s desires, appetites, and emotions. The term derives from the Latin temperantia, from temperare, meaning to regulate or moderate.

In classical philosophy, temperance is a moral virtue concerned with the right measure of pleasures, especially bodily ones. In Aristotelian ethics it is linked to pursuing the mean and avoiding excess. In later Latin and medieval writings temperantia was used to translate Greek ideas of self‑command, such as sophrosyne, and to emphasize restraint as a guiding principle of character.

In Christian moral theology, temperance is one of the four cardinal virtues alongside prudence, justice, and fortitude. It governs desires for food, drink, and sensual pleasures, promoting moderation and self‑control as a means to live virtuously. Different traditions emphasize temperance as a practical discipline in daily life, personal conduct, and social behavior.

The modern historical use of the term is closely associated with the temperance movement, a social reform effort in the 19th and early 20th centuries that advocated abstinence from alcohol and other intoxicants. The movement influenced legislation and cultural attitudes toward drinking in various countries, most notably contributing to Prohibition in the United States from 1920 to 1933.

Today, temperance is used more broadly to denote sobriety and moderation in all areas of life, including diet, consumption, and technology use. It remains a foundational concept in ethical and religious discussions of self‑control and the good life.