The Latin root is tempus , meaning time, the thought of separating the past and the future. The word temple , also based on the root tempus , gives the idea of a place of separation. Temperance then, as it relates to wisdom, is through Christ's power and our choice to separate the good from the bad. Thus, intemperance results from mingling good with evil. Temperance is exercising self-control and separating ourselves from evil, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Intemperance is the loss of self-control and joining with evil.
Modern science is discovering that the bonds between the mind and the body are much closer than previously thought. What affects the body affects the mind and vice versa. Mental power is dependent on physical health, and physical well-being is fostered by a mind at peace. Spiritual power is related to both mental and physical health. As we realize that the brain is the only medium of communication between God and a person and that the mind is affected by the body, the importance of temperance comes into proper focus.