Desire and judgement

237e238aSocratesWe must understand something else: within each of us are two ruling and guiding principles, and we follow whichever way they lead. One is an inborn desire for pleasure; the other is an acquired judgement that aims at what is best. At times they agree, at times they are at war, and sometimes one wins, sometimes the other. When judgement leads us by reason towards what is best and prevails, its victory is called self-control. When desire draws us without reason towards pleasures and takes command, its rule is named excess. Excess has many names, since it has many limbs and many parts. Whichever of its forms becomes prominent gives the person it possesses its own name—not a beautiful or an honourable one.