The Immoderate Moderation of Fenwick Arbuthnot
Fenwick Arbuthnot had always been a moderate person. For many years, he went through his life in an even-tempered manner, making it his regular practice to do all things in moderation.
"Too much of anything is a bad thing," Fenwick said, whenever he was asked to express his own philosophy.
Fenwick worked diligently as an accountant, but he did not work too diligently. He was happily married to his wife, but not too happily. He was religious, but not overly religious. He exercised regularly, but not too regularly. He was helpful to all his neighbors and friendly to all strangers, but not too helpful or too friendly. He was proud of his station in life, but not unduly proud.
Fenwick had moderate tastes, held moderate opinions, and voted only for moderate politicians. He gave his support to the principle of equal rights for all citizens, but with moderate restrictions. He accepted the necessity of war, as long as it was waged moderately and did not result in too many people being killed. He made donations to charities, but was careful not to give too much.
When Fenwick lost his job after thirty-five years with the same company, he was upset, but not hopeless. He responded to the situation with moderation.
"Jobs come and go," he said. "It is a nuisance to be out of work, but I will look for other employment."
When his wife left him for another man, he experienced disappointment, without being dejected. His feelings took a moderate direction.
"These things happen sometimes," he said. "It is unfortunate to see one's wife run off with someone else, but it is not the end of the world."
When his neighbors suddenly began to treat him with disdain, he did not take offense. He looked at their scorn from a moderate perspective.
"They seem ill-disposed toward me now, but that could change," he said. "Perhaps they will think more kindly of me tomorrow."
When the leader of the country in which Fenwick lived turned out to be utterly corrupt, it was not a source of worry to him. He chose to be moderately unconcerned.
"It seems that all leaders are corrupt to one degree or another," he said. "If a leader gives a good appearance and defends our country against its enemies, I can overlook a few imperfections."
In the end, it all became too much for Fenwick Arbuthnot, who had striven to avoid all forms of excess. He finally was undone by his temperate commitment to moderate living. His mind suddenly crumbled under the weight of its own moderation, and he went immoderately mad.
"Too much of anything is a bad thing," Fenwick said, whenever he was asked to express his own philosophy.
Fenwick worked diligently as an accountant, but he did not work too diligently. He was happily married to his wife, but not too happily. He was religious, but not overly religious. He exercised regularly, but not too regularly. He was helpful to all his neighbors and friendly to all strangers, but not too helpful or too friendly. He was proud of his station in life, but not unduly proud.
Fenwick had moderate tastes, held moderate opinions, and voted only for moderate politicians. He gave his support to the principle of equal rights for all citizens, but with moderate restrictions. He accepted the necessity of war, as long as it was waged moderately and did not result in too many people being killed. He made donations to charities, but was careful not to give too much.
When Fenwick lost his job after thirty-five years with the same company, he was upset, but not hopeless. He responded to the situation with moderation.
"Jobs come and go," he said. "It is a nuisance to be out of work, but I will look for other employment."
When his wife left him for another man, he experienced disappointment, without being dejected. His feelings took a moderate direction.
"These things happen sometimes," he said. "It is unfortunate to see one's wife run off with someone else, but it is not the end of the world."
When his neighbors suddenly began to treat him with disdain, he did not take offense. He looked at their scorn from a moderate perspective.
"They seem ill-disposed toward me now, but that could change," he said. "Perhaps they will think more kindly of me tomorrow."
When the leader of the country in which Fenwick lived turned out to be utterly corrupt, it was not a source of worry to him. He chose to be moderately unconcerned.
"It seems that all leaders are corrupt to one degree or another," he said. "If a leader gives a good appearance and defends our country against its enemies, I can overlook a few imperfections."
In the end, it all became too much for Fenwick Arbuthnot, who had striven to avoid all forms of excess. He finally was undone by his temperate commitment to moderate living. His mind suddenly crumbled under the weight of its own moderation, and he went immoderately mad.