Maimonides repeatedly emphasized the principle of the “middle path” (also called “the golden path”):
Every good trait is the balance point between two negative extremes.
For example:
- Between wastefulness and stinginess — stands generosity.
- Between cowardice and arrogance — stands courage.
- Between anger and apathy — stand humility and patience.
According to him, a healthy soul is one that knows how to maintain balance — not swept away by extremes of emotion, rather steady, thoughtful, and calm.
He called this “the health of the soul,” just as medicine deals with the health of the body.