In medio stat virtus (or, less commonly, in medio virtus stat) is a popular Latin phrase meaning «virtue is in the middle». The sentence is an invite to search for balance in things, which is in the middle of two extremes[1].

The expression comes from Medieval philosophy, but the same concept can be found previously in history: Aristotle in Ethica Nicomachea ("μέσον τε καὶ ἄριστον"; translated: middle is the best thing), Horace in Satires (Horace) ("est modus in rebus"; translated: there is a limit in things) e Ovid in Metamorphoses ("medio tutissimus ibis"; translated: you will go most safely by the middle course[1]).

References

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  1. ^ a b L. De Mauri (1979). Flores sententiarum: raccolta di sentenze, proverbi e motti latini di uso quotidiano. Hoepli. p. 627. ISBN 978-88-203-0992-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)

See also

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Category:Latin words and phrases