“The good man wishes for the true good; the bad man for apparent good.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, Chapter 4
(Translated by W.D. Ross)
Big Idea
Life’s like grocery shopping:
- 🥦 True Good = Buying veggies to stay healthy long-term.
- 🍩 Apparent Good = Grabbing donuts because they’re tempting now.
Real-Life Scenarios
- Money Moves
- True Good = Saving $100/month for emergencies → Peace of mind.
- Apparent Good = Blowing $100 on a trendy jacket → Instant regret.
- Friendship Goals
- True Good = Calling a friend going through divorce → Real support.
- Apparent Good = Posting “RIP” on a stranger’s FB post → Fake caring.
- Career Choices
- True Good = Taking a lower-paid job you love → Daily joy.
- Apparent Good = Sticking with a soul-crushing job for fancy titles → Slow burnout.
Try This Week
- The “Why” Test
Before deciding, ask:- “Is this truly good (🥦) or just looks good (🍩)?”
- Swap One Fake Good
Replace 1 shallow habit with 1 meaningful action:- Example: Scroll TikTok less → Text a relative you miss.
- Dinner Table Talk
Ask family: “What’s something truly good you did today that nobody saw?”