With respect to those, however, who are in the acme of life, it is evident that their manners will be between those of youth and old men, so as to take away the excess of each. And they are neither very confident; for audacity is a thing of such a kind as confidence; nor very timid, but are disposed in a becoming manner with respect to both these. Nor do they confide in all men, nor disbelieve all men, but are more disposed to judge according to truth. And neither do they alone live with a view to what is beautiful in conduct, nor with a view to what is advantageous, but with a view to both. Nor are they inclined to parsimony, nor yet to luxury, but to that mode of life which is appropriate, and fit. They are also disposed in a similar manner with respect to anger and desire; and they are temperate in conjunction with fortitude, and brave in conjunction with temperance. For these virtues are distributed in the young and the old; since young men indeed are brave and intemperate, but elderly men temperate and timid. In short, the advantages which are distributed among the young and the old, subsist in conjunction in those who are in the acme of life; but such things as exceed, or are deficient in the young and the old, of these, that which is moderate and fit, is possessed by men in the vigour of their age. But the body, indeed, is in its acme from thirty to five and thirty years of age, but the soul about the forty ninth year. And thus much concerning the manners of youth, and old age, and those who are in the acme of life.
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