Guard yourself from that mother of vices, self-love, which is mindless love for the body. For it gives birth specious justification to the three first and most general of the impassioned thoughts. I mean those of gluttony, avarice and self-esteem, which take as their pretext some so-called need of the body. All further vices are generated by these three. You must there be on your guard, as we have already said, and fight against self-love with great vigilance. For when this vice is eradicated, all the others are eradicated too. (Maximos the Confessor)

A glutton gulps his food, consuming great quantities, but too much and too quickly to enjoy.

Avarice is to covet what others have, to hoard wealth, to be greedy and to never be satisfied.

Self-esteem, particularly that pride the Greeks called hubris, is to arrogantly claim the respect, honor, and authority due others.

In each case the vice over-reaches authentic need. In each case we over-consume and, paradoxically, amplify our sense of need.

Food, property, and pride are all better for us in small portions.