Frequent practice of moderate asceticism is a way of embedding into your mind the fact that your desires are not good indicators of worthwhile choices. When you act against those desires, your mind will learn from your behaviors and conclude that these things are not so desirable after all. Would anyone who thought pleasure was the ultimate good deliberately put herself in an uncomfortable position? Would anyone who thought social status was the highest good neglect his social media accounts? Would anyone who thought money was the highest good turn down, or even give away, a large sum of
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