What is "sophrosyne"

the quality of wise moderation; Greek, "prudence, moderation in desires, discretion, temperance," from sophron "of sound mind, prudent, temperate" (see Sophronia).

n. an ancient Greek concept of an ideal of excellence of character and soundness of mind, which when combined in one well-balanced individual leads to other qualities, such as temperance, moderation, prudence, and self-control.

Sophrosyne is an ancient Greek concept of an ideal of excellence of character and soundness of mind, which when combined in one well-balanced individual leads to other qualities, such as temperance, moderation, prudence, purity, and self-control.

In other languages there is no single word that is a simple equivalent, but it is sometimes translated into English as prudence, self-control, moderation, or temperance.

The word is found in the writings of Plato, and its meaning is debated in his dialogue Charmides.

In Greek literature sophrosyne is considered an important quality, and is expressed in opposition to the concept of " hubris". A noted example of this occurs in Homer's The Iliad. When Agamemnon decides to take the queen, Briseis, away from Achilles, it is seen as Agamemnon behaving with hubris and lacking sophrosyne. Sophrosyne is theme in the play Hippolytus by Euripides, where sophrosyne is represented by the goddess Artemis and is personified by the character Hippolytus.

An adjectival form is "sophron".