:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Moderation prescribes less of everything. The doctrine of the mean prescribes the right amount, which in some cases is a great deal — courage is a mean, and the mean for a soldier under fire is not half-bravery. Confusing the two turns a doctrine about calibration into a doctrine about restraint.
Side by side
| Aspect | The golden mean | Moderation |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribes | The right amount | Less |
| Can be a lot | Yes | No |
| Depends on situation | Entirely | No |
| Universal | No — some acts excluded | Assumed |
What each one means
The golden mean is the desirable middle between two extremes — too much and too little. In Aristotle's version each character excellence sits at that middle, with the right point set by the situation. In mathematics the same phrase is an old name for the golden ratio.
Full definition of The Golden Mean →The contrast above sets out how Moderation differs from The Golden Mean on the points that actually matter.