Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Quote: “Virtue is destroyed by excess and deficiency but preserved by the mean, as health is by moderate diet.”​

“Virtue is destroyed by excess and deficiency but preserved by the mean, as health is by moderate diet.”​
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II, Chapter 2
(Translated by W.D. Ross)

Core Idea

Ethics are your life’s nutrition tracker — just as 5,000-calorie binges and 800-calorie diets both wreck health, ​moral balance thrives on steady “meal prep” of habits. Imagine MyFitnessPal for character: logging virtues instead of macros.

Why This Matters Today

​Campus Cafeteria Ethics
Excess: Daily burger binges → freshman 15
Deficiency: Salad-only anxiety → burnout
Golden Mean: 80% balanced meals + 20% fries → sustain ​body-mind harmony

​Gym Obsession Alert
Excess: 2hr daily workouts → injury
Deficiency: Zero movement → lethargy
Golden Mean: 45min functional training → rest days → build ​sustainable strength

​Digital Diet Crisis
Excess: 8hr TikTok → brain fog
Deficiency: Total detox → FOMO stress
Golden Mean: 2hr intentional use → analog hobbies → craft ​ethical screen time

Action Steps

1. ​Virtue Meal Planner
   Use Habitica app:
   “Daily Servings: 3 kind acts + 1 hard task + 30min reflection”
2. ​21-Day Balance Challenge
   • Week 1: Cut 3 excess vices (e.g., gossip/spending)
   • Week 2: Fix 3 deficiency gaps (e.g., exercise/study)
3. ​Accountability Nutritionists
   Form 3 friends → weekly “habit calorie checks” → award ​Most Balanced Lifestyle