We return to the topic of immoderate moderation. To early philosophers, the pursuit of virtue was so complete that if a person could not sublimate pleasures to a more noble cause, death was considered a fair option.
What nobility lies in such death? Why should the body suffer for a mind unable to work through its impossible tasks? Perhaps it is better to ask, what life lies in such nobility? If the sage must share virtue to experience it fully, why emphasize the deed over connections to those who could learn from sagacious experience?
Pleasure and virtue should work in unison. Can a virtuous person continue to pursue greater virtue without some reward of pleasant company? Who better deserves the earthly rewards of beauty and kindness than someone who lives in service of the highest goods?