Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Quote: “To say that the supreme good is happiness is a truism; what is wanted is to explain what constitutes happiness.”​

“To say that the supreme good is happiness is a truism; what is wanted is to explain what constitutes happiness.”​
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 4

Simple Explanation:
Aristotle rejects vague notions of happiness. True ​supreme good (eudaimonia) isn’t fleeting joy or luck, but ​lifelong excellence achieved through ​virtuous activity (courage, wisdom) and ​rational purpose — a recipe he spends 10 books dissecting.

Real-World Connection:
① ​Mastering a Craft →
You ​practice guitar daily (action) → perfect technique (skill good) → join a band (social good) → experience eudaimonia through artistic expression (constituted happiness).
② ​Parenting with Intention →
You ​read to your child (action) → foster curiosity (immediate good) → nurture empathy (ethical good) → build a legacy of kindness (supreme good).
③ ​The Hidden Formula →
Happiness = ​Virtue (doing right) × ​Reason (choosing wisely) × ​Time (sustaining both). One without the others collapses into hedonism, greed, or empty ritual.