The whole couplet:
He knows to live, who keeps the middle state
And neither leans on this side nor on that
Extract:
He knows to live, who keeps the middle state
Question:
a) What do you understand by 'middle state'?
b) How can 'middle state' be achieved?
c) Is this line relevant in a student's life? Give an example.
d) What other things are required to lead a virtous life?
Answers
a) What do you understand by 'middle state'?
‘Middle state’ means the middle path avoiding extremism of any type.
b) How can 'middle state' be achieved?
The middle state can be achieved by self-control, wisdom, experience, pragmatism, and high-ideals.
c) Is this line relevant in a student's life? Give an example.
Yes. Middle state is very relevant in student’s life. A student, who does anything in extreme, will have to face negative consequences. For example if a student studies excessively, his health might suffer.
d) What other things are required to lead a virtuous life?
High moral character, healthy environment, watchfulness of the elders, high ideals, reading, self-discipline, etc. are a few things that are required to lead a virtuous life.
The man should not become too stingy or a glutton (the person who eats voraciously).
b) How can 'middle state' be achieved?
He says it could be achieved by forgiving simple mistakes, for example, not cutting the butler’s pay for selecting one wrong drink and not shouting at a good cook etc. And, to be like as simple as a child.
c) Is this line relevant in a student's life? Give an example.
No. it is not relevant to a student’s life because in the extract given, Pope speaks about people who are greedy, stingy and gluttons. He infact wants people to be as simple as a child whose spirit is as light as the air.
d) What other things are required to lead a virtuous life?
Apart from forgiving, one should not look at others errors with a magnifying glass.