There are infinite kinds and degrees of both of them, and we choose the life which has more pleasure and avoid that which has less; but we do not choose that life in which the elements of pleasure are either feeble or equally balanced with pain.

All the lives which we desire are pleasant; the choice of any others is due to inexperience.
Now there are four lives--the temperate, the rational, the courageous, the healthful; and to these let us oppose four others--the intemperate, the foolish, the cowardly, the diseased.

The temperate life has gentle pains and pleasures and placid desires, the intemperate life has violent delights, and still more violent desires.

And the pleasures of the temperate exceed the pains, while the pains of the intemperate exceed the pleasures.

But if this is true, none are voluntarily intemperate, but all who lack temperance are either ignorant or wanting in self-control: for men always choose the life which (as they think) exceeds in pleasure.