Shown below is a popular Kannada proverb with a strong message in Kannada script.

Its transliteration is

atiyaadare apaayakara; alakShyavaadare anaahuta

A literal translation would read like

Over-indulgence can be dangerous; negligence can be catastrophic.

The focus here is the need for moderation. The words “dangerous” and “catastrophic” can be treated as synonyms. In the original Kannada proverb, the corresponding words are used for alteration. The message is that one should always opt for a middle-of-the-road approach and avoid extremes. A few examples, which follow, will throw more light on the meaning and implications.

1. Bringing up children: Children should be brought up in a disciplined manner. But the discipline should not appear like punishment to the kids. Reasonably control them.  Give them love without pampering. If a kid likes toffees or chocolates, give them those things in small quantities. On the other hand, if the kid gets a tin of toffees, it would be a case of pampering. Moreover, the child’s health will also be adversely affected.

2. Student Life: The main, and perhaps the only, goal of the students is to study well, work hard, and do well in examinations. Their achievement during college life will decide, by and large, their professional life. I remember what our principal told the freshers on our first day in the engineering college. “If you work hard during these five years, you will enjoy the fruits for the next fifty years. If, on the other hand, you choose to enjoy during the next five years, you may suffer during the next fifty years”. Sports, television, movies, and mobile phones are among the normal distractions that come in the way of students’ main pursuit. Students may indulge in these things without getting obsessed. We also need to know that a student should not devote one hundred percent of his time to studies and curricular activities. College days also serve as the time for all-round development. A student who spends all his time on studies with no extracurricular activities will end up as a non-social bookworm.

Professional Life: People are expected to balance their office and family. Ambitious people spend longer hours in the office or even carry out office work at home. People who are less serious about their professional career use the office time for personal and family work. Both should be avoided.

4. Eating habits: Some people are habitually gluttonous. Such people tend to become obese and develop associated health problems. Some others are poor eaters. Such people tend to become undernourished and weak. Both athe approaches are to be avoided. People should stick to dietary recommendations issued by competent bodies and lead normal, healthy lives. 

5. Alcoholic Drinks: We know that alcoholic drinks are health hazards and also social evils.  We know of many people who became addicts and alcoholics and developed serious liver disorders. Even more sadly, the family members also suffer. So, excessive alcoholic consumption is to be avoided in any case. At the same time, there may be some wisdom in consuming alcoholic drinks in very small quantities. Alcohol has the property of thinning the blood. Consequently, the chances of blockage in the arteries are reduced. Doctors often recommend that vulnerable people consume drinks in very small quantities (about 30 mL per day) to reduce the possibility of heart attacks.

The foregoing are instances of cases where moderation is beneficial. There are certainly more such instances in our day-to-day lives. I will end this with a quote attributed to Julia Child, an American Chef and TV Personality.

Moderation, small helpings. Sample a bit of everything
These are the secrets of Happiness and good health.