Huey Long and Immoderation Anticipate: Moderation Visual Organizer
- I can describe the “golden mean,” or middle between behaviors, to understand how moderation works in my habits.
Directions: The Greek philosopher Aristotle urged people to seek a “golden mean” between extremes in their behavior, thoughts, and habits. In other words, Aristotle thought any habit could be practiced with moderation, rather than extremism.
Two figures in history, Boss Tweed and Huey Long, typified the vice of immoderation. You will revisit this activity when learning about each of these characters. This activity will help you prepare for learning more about these figures and how moderation and immoderation are relevant across time.
Using the examples in the chart below, think about what would happen if you practiced the extreme of that behavior: Too little or a deficiency, or too much, or immoderation or extremism. The first behavior is done for you as an example.
Essential Vocabulary
| Immoderation (extremism) | Acting in excess or to an extreme. Lacking restraint. |
| Moderation | The avoidance of excess of extremes. |
| Immoderation and Boss Tweed | ||
| Behavior or Habit | …if practiced immoderately or to an extreme | …if practiced with moderation |
| Using social media | Not enough: unaware of developments in friends/family’s lives
Too much: Anxiety or depression from comparing your life to others |
Keeping up with important events in family/friends’ lives; entertainment |
| Watching Netflix | ||
| Practicing a sport or musical instrument | ||
| My example: | ||
| My example: | ||
Directions: Using the examples in the chart below, think about what would happen if you practiced the extreme of that behavior: Too little or a deficiency, or too much, or immoderation or extremism. The first behavior has been done for you as an example.
| Immoderation and Huey Long | ||
| Behavior or Habit | …if practiced immoderately or to an extreme | …if practiced with moderation |
| Exercising | Not enough: feeling unhealthy
Too much: Injuring yourself, missing out on fun opportunities or time with family and friends, losing perspective of other important things in life |
maintaining good physical and mental health |
| Watching Netflix | ||
| Playing video games | ||
| My example: | ||
| My example: | ||
