In a world addicted to excess — more food, more wealth, more pleasure, more attention — the word abstemious whispers of something different: discipline, moderation, and intentional self-restraint.
Definition
Abstemious (adj.): Marked by temperance or moderation, especially in eating and drinking.
Origin
From Latin abstemius — ab- (from) + temetum (strong drink).
Originally, it meant refraining from alcohol, but now it suggests a broader self-control.
In Practice
- A monk who eats one simple meal a day is abstemious.
- A writer who chooses silence over self-promotion is abstemious.
- A person who pauses before every purchase, who eats slowly, who listens more than they speak — all are abstemious in spirit.
Why It Matters
Abstemiousness isn’t repression. It’s clarity.
It’s not about denial — it’s about choosing deliberately what matters.
We often mistake loudness for strength. But there is a deep and radical quiet power in someone who wants less and needs little.
The World Today
In a society driven by consumption and instant gratification, abstemious souls feel like outliers. But maybe they are the ones who still see clearly, unclouded by craving.
They remind us that enough is a decision, not a destination.
Final Thought
To be abstemious is not to lack desire, but to master it.
It is to sit at the feast — and choose only what nourishes.
In restraint, there is revelation.