Sophrosyne is a Greek philosophical term etymologically meaning healthy-mindedness and from there self-control or moderation guided by knowledge and balance. Sophrosyne referred to excellence of character and soundness of mind in a well-balanced individual.
Sophrosyne. Sophrosyne is a Greek philosophical term etymologically meaning healthy-mindedness and from there self-control or moderation guided by knowledge and balance. Roman poet Juvenal later interpreted sophrosyne 'mens sana in corpore sano'.  The word is found in the writings of Plato, and its meaning is debated in his dialogue Charmides. In Greek literature sophrosyne is considered an important quality, and is expressed in opposition to the concept of  hubris . A noted example of this occurs in Homer's The Iliad: When Agamemnon decides to take the queen, Briseis, away from Achilles, it is seen as Agamemnon behaving with hubris and lacking sophrosyne.  Origin of SOPHROSYNE. Greek sōphrosynē, from sōphrōn being of sound mind, prudent, reasonable (from saos, sōs whole, safe, sound + -phrōn; akin to Greek phrēn mind) + -sȳnē, suffix used to form abstract nouns — more at thumb, frenetic. This word doesn't usually appear in our free dictionary, but the definition from our premium Unabridged Dictionary is offered here on a limited basis. Sophrosyne is usually translated as temperance, moderation, prudence, self-control, or self-restraint. The idea of this harmonious balance is the basis of two famous Greek sayings: “nothing in excess” and “know thyself” — it’s the exact opposite of arrogant self-assertion or hubris. The word has only appeared in English within the past sixty years (W H Auden used it in 1944) but it has resonated with some moderns because the idea is quite close to that of wholeness. In classical Greece, sophrosyne ( soh-froh-soo'-neh ) referred to excellence of character and soundness of mind in a well-balanced individual. This complex ideal has no direct translation into English. Its roots suggest a bringing together (syne) of the qualities of wisdom (sophia). ...the subject of the Charmides is, What is sophrosyne? -- and that word cannot be translated by any one English word. The truth is that this quality, this sophrosyne, which to the Greeks was an ideal second to none in importance, is not among our ideals. We have lost the conception of it. I think what critics don’t get is this concept of sophrosyne: that we reject overconsumption because we get more pleasure from not owning three closets of clothes or a houseful of knickknacks. We derive more happiness from saving our space, time, money, or the planet, than acquiring more possessions. Sophrosyne isn’t throwing all your stuff away in a no-holds-barred decluttering session; it’s questioning whether each item you own adds value to your life, or if you’d be happier without it. Sophrosyne isn’t about choosing moderation because you think you should, but because it feels right and delights your soul. A common misconception about minimalists is that we ditch our material possessions in some bizarre attempt to deny ourselves the “pleasures” of consumerism Government is only a mirror of ourselves. Solving our problem requires recapturing a vision of the ideals summarized in the ancient word sophrosyne: excellence of character and soundness of mind in a well-balanced individual. Perhaps wholeness is the modern concept which comes closest to capturing this essence. ...the subject of the Charmides is, What is sophrosyne? -- and that word cannot be translated by any one English word. The truth is that this quality, this sophrosyne, which to the Greeks was an ideal second to none in importance, is not among our ideals. We have lost the conception of it. Having sophrosyne is like being a finely-tuned instrument, with all our thoughts, values, and actions in harmony. But it goes beyond that: mastering our desires, and avoiding extremes in consumption, attitudes, and behavior, doesn’t benefit only ourselves. Sophrosyne isn’t throwing all your stuff away in a no-holds-barred decluttering session; it’s questioning whether each item you own adds value to your life, or if you’d be happier without it. Sophrosyne isn’t about choosing moderation because you think you should, but because it feels right and delights your soul. A common misconception about minimalists is that we ditch our material possessions in some bizarre attempt to deny ourselves the “pleasures” of consumerism
http://www.definitions.net/definition/sophrosyne https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophrosyne http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sophrosyne http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-sop1.htm http://home.earthlink.net/~dbscr/Sophros.htm http://www.missminimalist.com/2011/04/minimalist-philosophy-sophrosyne/ http://home.earthlink.net/~dbscr/Sophros.htm http://www.missminimalist.com/2011/04/minimalist-philosophy-sophrosyne/
what is sophrosyne