Moderation and Excess

Nature does not require sacrifice of you. Obedience is better than sacrifice. It is no true sacrifice to give up that to which one has no right. One can sacrifice only by voluntarily surrendering that which is rightfully his. Nature does not require this. But she does require that you do not take that which is not rightfully yours. You may insist upon moderation in all things, including murder, theft, rape, incest, etc., but there can be no moderation in wrong doing of whatever nature. Moderation consists in the correct use of those things to which we have a legitimate right. We hve a right to eat. Moderation in eating means eating to supply the needs of the body for food and when these needs are satisfied to stop. To eat for pleasure, or for sociability, or for some other fictious reason, when no need exists for food, is not moderation - IT IS EXCESS. But man's body has no need for tabaco or alcohol. He cannot use these to supply any needs of his body or mind. Therefore, their use in the samllest amout is excess. Their use is punished according to the amout and frequency of such use.

Reference:

[1] Herbert M. Shelton, Living Life to Live it Longer, 1926. Republished 1962 by Health Research Mokelumne Hill, California.