“Virtue also is incomplete; for a man may possess it yet be asleep or inactive throughout life.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 5
“Honour is too superficial to be the good we seek; it depends on those who confer it.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 5 Simple Explanation:Aristotle argues that honour (praise, awards, social status) is an unstable, superficial good because its value hinges on others’ opinions. True human flourishing (eudaimonia) must be self-sufficient — rooted in … Read more
“The life of enjoyment is slavish and fit only for beasts.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 5 Simple Explanation:Aristotle condemns a life chasing shallow pleasures (e.g., overeating, endless entertainment) as “slavish” — akin to animals driven by instinct. True human dignity, he argues, lies in self-disciplined virtue and rational pursuits, not passive indulgence. Real-World … Read more
“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 … Read more
“The many do not give the same account of the good as the wise.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 4 Simple Explanation:Aristotle contrasts how ordinary people (the many) and philosophers (the wise) define “the good.” While the many chase transient pleasure, wealth, or fame, the wise pursue virtuous habits and rational purpose — the … Read more
“Happiness is the highest of all realizable goods.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 4 Simple Explanation:Aristotle defines happiness (eudaimonia) as the ultimate realizable good — the final aim that gives value to all other achievements (wealth, health, honor). Unlike fleeting pleasures, it requires lifetime cultivation of virtue, reason, and meaningful relationships. Real-World Connection:① Pursuing … Read more
“The good of man must be the end of the science of Politics.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 2 Simple Explanation:Aristotle declares that politics — the “master-science” — exists solely to achieve human flourishing (eudaimonia). Unlike economics (which manages resources) or military strategy (which seeks victory), politics must unify all sciences and arts toward … Read more
“Politics appears to be the science which best deserves the name of master-science.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 2 Simple Explanation:Aristotle elevates politics as the “master-science” because it governs all other sciences (economics, education, ethics) toward society’s highest good. Just as architecture directs masonry and engineering, politics harmonizes specialized fields for the common welfare. … Read more
“The end of the master-art is always more desired than the ends of the subordinate arts.”— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 1 Simple Explanation:Aristotle compares life’s goals to arts (skills/pursuits). Subordinate arts (e.g., cooking, carpentry) serve immediate needs, but the master-art (living virtuously) is the ultimate aim that gives all other goals meaning. Real-World … Read more
“One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one day; and 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 warns against mistaking temporary joys for true happiness (eudaimonia). Just as a single swallow’s arrival doesn’t confirm spring’s … Read more