Trader’s moderation in all matters

Chapter XVIII T rader’ s moderation in all matters W e will finish this book with the discussion of moderation, a supreme virtue, the implication of which is a number of other virtues. First, a trader must show moderation whether his circumstances are fortunate or misfortunate. Both good and bad fortunes equally and regularly befall him, more than is the case in lives of other people. This means that he must not be enthralled in the good times nor lost when the times are bad, as we already mentioned in reference to Boetius. Whatever a man’s temperament, he must always strive to achieve a state of balance, for this is the essence of virtue, which is, as Aristotle says, a purposeful pursuit of the middle way. Second, a trader must always eat and drink moderately. Excessive drinking is the worse transgression of the two because a trader is more publicly exposed than the average man is. Men who are not engaged in trade can discretely withdraw in order to sleep off their sinful state. A trader is forced to appear before the world and is not in the position to conceal his drunken state, which is not only disgraceful but also he is at greater risk of making numerous mistakes in calculations and when buying and selling which can have damaging consequences. Thus, intemperate eating and drinking should be avoided because of the possible negative consequences this might lead to. Apart from the fact that such excessive indulgence is disgraceful, it can also result

in sloth, a numb mind, sleepiness, and difficulties in speech, in addition to various maladies, such as aching bones, colic, stomachaches, fever, leprosy and many other illnesses. This is what an Apostle speaks of: “Do not drink too much of the unchaste wine.” The word among doctors is: “More people die of gluttony than of the sword.” St. Thomas speaks of five kinds of gluttony: first, when one wants to eat before even feeling hungry; second, when one eats one meal after another; third, when one craves expensive food; fourth, when one desires great quantities of food; and fifth, when one is intemperate in his eating habits and so eats and drinks excessively and in a less than orderly manner. Augustine teaches that everything needs to be perceived in its relation to the place, time and the person involved. W e must not rashly pass judgment, because without being gluttonous or greedy, some wise men might enjoy expensive food, and in contrast, there are certainly the ignorant that in most sinful and passionate greed devour the most meager morsels of food. It is more proper to have a taste for fish, as our Lord did, than lentil as Esau or barley like horses do. Paragraph 41, “Everyman” . Therefore, a trader should be moderate in his eating and drinking habits for the above mentioned reasons. Food must be valued and appreciated only as nourishment, as Boetius says: “Nature is gratified with minor and minimal things.” He should guard against becoming like those whom St. Paul described in the following way: “Their God is their belly, their glory is in gluttonous feasts.” Nothing good ever resulted from gluttony, only bad conduct and evil urges.

Third, the trader must show moderation in his speaking. He must not speak excessively because this is generally highly reprehensible. This is especially damaging for traders because in their case it is not only a matter of bad manners, as it is for all other people. The trader will suffer graver consequences in terms of his business, when, for example, his colleague learns useful information, which can turn out to be at his expense. W ords can be marked, unlike silence. Of course, a clever man will not always be silent; he will carefully decide whether the time and the place are right for discussing certain matters. He must be particularly mindful of five things. First, carefully consider what you are about to say. Y our point must be in connection with what was previously said. In addition, avoid uttering obscene, rude, trivial, scornful and indecent words, nor those that are not becoming of a man of your rank. Second, you must know at which point it is polite and justified to interrupt the other speaker. W ait until the time is right for you to speak, because if your timing is right, your words will be well received. Do not act as people from my country, where seven people speak at the same time, and they all nonetheless manage to understand each other. Third, take into account how long you will speak, because your speech needs to be limited. Do not allot too much time for yourself, allow others to have their chance. In addition, restrain yourself from speaking too often and too much, as this is typical of a fool. When you are commencing your speech, do not let your introduction be overly extensive, as if you started ab ovo to describe the T rojan war. Y our speech should be explicit, clear and brief, but not at the expense of comprehensibility; as Horatio says: “The more I

strive to be brief, the less intelligible my utterances are.” Fourth, you must always take into account who your audience is. This means you should not reply to everyone and at any time, regardless of their rank. Always keep in mind the benefits you can yield from paying your respects to others, which is graceful and it costs you nothing. The respects you pay are to your own benefit, as Aristotle says: “Respect is paid to he who pays it.” Fifth, one should know which manner of speaking is appropriate in a particular situation. W e would go to great lengths if we were to discuss this matter thoroughly, but since Cicero went through great pains to write about this, I will not engage in this particular discussion, especially not after explaining what a trader’s rhetoric should be like. Nonetheless, I will make a few points for those unlearned and disorganized, which are numerous. When presenting your thoughts and ideas, your voice, countenance and gestures must be charming. Y our voice must be moderately strong. Its tone must change depending on the subject matter, whether you speak of things of small or paramount importance, and thus become harsh, compassionate, heightened, lowered etc. In terms of your appearance and posture, you should not move your head, eyes or mouth, and maintain the same control over hands and legs. Maintain a firm, poised posture, and engage only your tongue. Cultivate refined eloquence and skilled presentation. Some may be more talented than others may be, but we must always put effort into developing all the necessary skills we may lack. T ry to display your most charming countenance and overall appearance. Combine moderation with charm or authority, for it is nice to find such a blend in experienced

men who show moderation in their speech and reasonable judgment. It is a well-known fact that “rarely is one fortunate as to be truly reasonable at a gentle age” , as Petrarch says, and blessed are those who were given that gift. Fourth, a trader must show moderation in trading, whether he is buying or selling goods, and in all business deals he enters. If you ever meet a thoughtless and covetous man, an opportunist who would seize any opportunity, you can easily consider him as good as bankrupt. Those who act purposefully