Does Hinduism advocate middle path ? Is it advisable to avoid extremes and take middle path in deciding what is dharma, what is not ?

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः । यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ॥ ५६ ॥ Where women are honoured, there the gods rejoice; where, on the other hand, they are not honoured, there all rites are fruitless.—(56) Manusmriti 3.56 My question is then why in itihaas text we...