“The thrust and nature of the soul of man have two aspects. The first lies in the appetite … which pulls a man in different directions; and the second is in the reason, which teaches and expounds what we are to do, and what to avoid. Accordingly the reason commands, and the appetite obeys. Our every action must steer clear of rashness and carelessness, and must do nothing for which a praiseworthy motive cannot be adduced; indeed, this is virtually a description of obligation. We must ensure that our appetites obey the reason, and neither run ahead of it nor shrink from it through laziness or cowardice. They must also be serene and clear of all mental disturbance, and this will ensure that steadfastness and self-restraint will emerge in all their glory. As for the appetites which roam too far, and in the exuberance, so to say, of greed or of evasion are insufficiently reined in by reason, they undoubtedly transgress all bounds and limits; for they renounce and reject obedience and do not submit to reason, to which they are subject by the law of nature. Not only men’s spirits but even their bodies are thrown into turmoil by them. When people are livid with anger, or stirred by some lust or fear, or elated by excessive pleasure, you can see it in their very faces; the features, voices, movements, demeanour of each and all of them are transformed.
“All this makes us realize—to revert to our theme of obligation—that all appetites are to be restrained and tranquillized, and our attention and care must be awakened, to ensure that we do nothing rash or at random, without due consideration and in an offhand way.
“Nature has not fashioned us to behave as if we have been created for fun and games. Rather, we are moulded for self-discipline and for more sober and important pursuits. Fun and games are indeed permissible, but they fall into the same category as sleep and relaxation in general, to be enjoyed once we have done justice to serious and weighty business. Moreover, such sportive behaviour should not be extravagant or licentious, but rather, wholesome and spiced with wit. Just as we grant boys no unlimited freedom in their recreation, but allow what is consonant with honourable activity, so even when we make sport, the beam of light cast by worth of character should shine out.” (On Duties, Book I)
Notes in the Margins of the Days 