An inspiring anthem to the power, promise and challenges of self-control, the second in a series examining the timeless Stoic virtues from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ryan Holiday The inscription on the Oracle of Delphi says: 'Nothing in excess.' C.S. Lewis described temperance as going to the 'right length but no further.' Easy to say, hard to practice - and if it was tough in 300 BCE, or in the 1940s, it feels all but impossible today. Yet it's the most empowering and important virtue any of us can learn. Drawing on ancient Stoic wisdom and examples across history and around the world, Ryan Holiday shows why self-control is so vital, and how to cultivate it in our own lives. Moderation is not about abstinence: it is about creativity, self-respect, focus and balance. Without it, even the most positive traits become vices. But with it, happiness and success are assured: it is the only way to live an extraordinary, fulfilled and effective life.