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temperance
This term describes a disciplined approach to desire, emphasizing a middle ground between excess and deficiency. It carries a connotation of moral strength and intentionality, often associated with a philosophical or spiritual pursuit of balance and mental clarity. In a historical and social context, the word is inextricably linked to the organized effort to ban alcohol. While the general meaning refers to moderation, in this specific context it implies total abstinence, shifting the meaning from a sliding scale of restraint to a binary state of avoidance.
Meanings
The practice of moderation or self-restraint in action, thought, or eating and drinking.
"He practiced temperance in all aspects of his life to maintain a balanced mind."
The complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
"The temperance movement gained significant momentum in the nineteenth century."