The Greeks and Romans were masters of extravagance.
They didn’t just throw parties—they hosted grand, lavish affairs that would put today’s most opulent gatherings to shame. Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, didn’t just rent tables for entertaining guests—he owned 300 ivory tables. Can you even imagine? And it wasn’t just the food and the parties they perfected; it was the drinking culture that truly stood out. The ancients didn’t guzzle wine straight from the bottle—they watered it down, and this practice holds a valuable lesson for us today.
In ancient Greece and Rome, the idea of drinking wine “neat” was considered barbaric. Cato, a Roman statesman, had his wine, just like Socrates, but neither of them was known for drinking the potent stuff straight. The Greeks and Romans watered their wine to dilute its strength—sometimes adding as much as three parts water to one part wine. The poet Hesiod, a favorite of the Stoics, was clear: anyone who drank undiluted wine was seen as reckless, uncontrolled. To them, moderation wasn’t just a virtue—it was a necessity.
Imagine the looks they’d get today.
For the Stoics, this principle of moderation went far beyond just drinking. Moderation was woven into the very fabric of their philosophy. They believed that a balanced life was one that didn’t give in to extremes. Instead of indulging every whim and craving, they practiced temperance, learning to “water down” life’s pleasures to maintain harmony and peace of mind. Whether it was food, drink, or even time spent with friends, the Stoics understood that the key to living well lay in avoiding excess.
This is a message we’d do well to remember in our own lives, especially in the era of overindulgence. Today, it’s easy to find ourselves swept up in extremes—whether it’s overworking, overexercising, or indulging in too much entertainment. We could all benefit from “watering down” some of these indulgences, much like the ancient Romans did with their wine. After all, a little moderation can lead to greater joy in the long run.