| Aristotle's Concept of the Golden Mean |
| -- Defect -- |
BALANCE |
+
Excess + |
| cowardice |
COURAGE |
rashness |
| stinginess |
LIBERALITY |
extravangance |
| sloth |
AMBITION |
greed |
| humility |
MODESTY |
pride |
| secrecy |
HONESTY |
loquacity |
| moroseness |
GOOD HUMOR |
buffoonery |
| quarrelsomeness |
FRIENDSHIP |
flattery |
|
self-indulgence |
TEMPERANCE |
insensibility |
|
apathy |
EQUANIMITY |
irascibility |
| Hamlet's Indecisiveness |
Atticus' SELF CONTROL |
Don Quixote's Impulsiveness |
| *Derived from
The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant |
Use these triads (or others you add to the chart)
as a way of analyzing
a major character's personal strengths and weaknesses. |