The Way In The Middle
"Holding a cup and overfilling it Cannot be as good as stopping short Pounding a blade and sharpening it Cannot be kept for long"
and
"Therefore the sage: Eliminates extremes Eliminates excess..."
Source: Tao Te Ching (translation by Derek Lin) , chapter 9 and 29 It's funny how much extremes don't work for us. We cannot bend to any side with impunity -- whether it's an activity, a behavior or a standpoint. At some point there is a price to pay -- either we "break" or "become blunt".
For example, diving into an activity, a "passion" without consideration for all life's crucial aspects usually brings pain. We have roles to play which require balanced attention -- health, family, friends, professional life -- private life. We have values which have to work in unison for us to be whole. We have to rest.
To behave in a measured way is a sign of experience and wisdom -- if one doesn't need to express himself loudly, obtrusively, aggressively or by contrast -- passively, that person seems complete to us, seems consistent.