“One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one day; so too one day or a short time does not make a man blessed and happy.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 7
Simple Explanation:
Aristotle rejects instant gratification, framing happiness (eudaimonia) as the cumulative harvest of enduring habits. Like spring requiring consistent warmth, human flourishing demands sustained virtue (daily courage, justice, wisdom) over decades, not isolated heroic acts.
Real-World Connection:
① Learning a Language →
You study Spanish 30分钟 daily → struggle for 3 months (short-term frustration) → converse fluently after 2 years (long-term joy) → unlock multicultural friendships (compound happiness).
② Fitness Transformation →
You lift weights 4x weekly → no visible change in 6 weeks (temporary doubt) → build lifelong health after 5 years (body as virtue’s monument).
③ The Hidden Compounding →
True happiness works like ethical interest — small acts of integrity (returning lost wallets, apologizing sincerely) accrue into an unshakable reputation and self-respect that no single event can replicate.