Temperance. Temperance is defined as moderation or voluntary self-restraint. It is typically described in terms of what an individual voluntarily refrains from doing. This includes restraint from retaliation in the form of non-violence and forgiveness, restraint from arrogance in the form of humility and modesty, restraint from excesses such as extravagant luxury or splurging now in the form of prudence, and restraint from excessive anger or craving for something in the form of calmness and self-control. Temperance has been described as a virtue by religious thinkers, philosophers, and more recently, psychologists, particularly in the positive psychology movement. In classical iconography, the virtue is often depicted as a woman holding two vessels transferring water from one to another. It was one of the cardinal virtues in western thought found in Greek philosophy and Christianity, as well as eastern traditions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Temperance is one of the six virtues in the positive psychology classification, included with wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, and transcendence. It is generally characterized as the control over excess, and expressed through characteristics such as chastity, modesty, humility, self-regulation, hospitality, decorum, abstinence, forgiveness and mercy; each of these involves restraining an excess of some impulse, such as sexual desire, vanity, or anger. The term temperance can also refer to the abstention from alcohol, especially with reference to the temperance movement. It can also refer to alcohol moderation. The Greek definition of temperance translates to moderation in action, thought, or feeling; restraint. Temperance is a major Athenian virtue, as advocated by Plato; self-restraint is one of his four core virtues of the ideal city, and echoed by Aristotle. According to Aristotle, temperance is a mean with regard to pleasures. In Charmides, one of Plato's early dialogues, the one who possessed sophrosune is defined in four ways: one who has quietness, one who has modesty, one who does his own business, and one who knows himself. Plato quickly dismisses the three first definitions and argues against that if sophrosune would have been only the property of knowing what one knows or not, then it would be useless without knowledge about other matters. Themes of temperance can be seen across cultures and time, as illustrated here. Temperance is an essential part of the Eightfold Path. The third and fifth of the five precepts reflect values of temperance: misconduct concerning sense pleasures and drunkenness are to be avoided. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, temperance is prolific. The Old Testament emphasizes temperance as a core virtue, as evidenced in both Solomon's Book of Proverbs and in the Ten Commandments, with its admonitions against adultery and covetousness. The New Testament does so as well, with forgiveness being central to theology and self-control being one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Thomas Aquinas promoted Plato's original virtues in addition to several others. Within the Christian church Temperance is a virtue akin to self-control. It is applied to all areas of life. It can especially be viewed in practice among sects like the Amish, Old Order Mennonites, and Conservative Mennonites. In the Christian religion, temperance is a virtue that moderates attraction and desire for pleasure and provides balance in the use of created goods. St. Thomas calls it a disposition of the mind which binds the passions. Temperance is believed to combat the sin of gluttony. More recently, in positive psychology, temperance was defined to include these four main character strengths: forgiveness, humility, prudence, and self-regulation. The concept of dama in Hinduism is equivalent to temperance. It is sometimes written as damah. The word dama, and Sanskrit derivative words based on it, connote the concepts of self-control and self-restraint. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, in verse 5.2.3, states that three characteristics of a good, developed person are self-restraint, compassion and love for all sentient life, and charity. In Hinduism literature dedicated to yoga, self-restraint is expounded with the concept of yamas. According to ṣaṭsampad, self-restraint is one of the six cardinal virtues. The list of virtues that constitute a moral life evolve in vedas and upanishads. Over time, new virtues were conceptualized and added, some replaced, others merged.