Civil confusions often spring from trifles but decide great issues. Aristotle More Quotes by Aristotle More Quotes From Aristotle Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us; rather we are adapted by nature to receive them, and are made perfect by habit. Aristotle virtue habit perfect Anyone who has no need of anybody but himself is either a beast or a God. Aristotle beast dog needs We are better able to study our neighbours than ourselves, and their actions than our own. Aristotle able study action And yet the true creator is necessity, which is the mother of invention. Aristotle creator invention mother Happiness may be defined as good fortune joined to virtue, or a independence, or as a life that is both agreeable and secure. Aristotle independence may happiness Friends are an aid to the young, to guard them from error; to the elderly, to attend to their wants and to supplement their failing power of action; to those in the prime of life, to assist them to noble deeds. Aristotle errors inspirational friendship Phronimos, possessing practical wisdom . But the only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom; all the others must be possessed, so it seems, both by rulers and ruled. The virtue of a person being ruled is not practical wisdom but correct opinion; he is rather like a person who makes the pipes, while the ruler is the one who can play them. Aristotle political special play To appreciate the beauty of a snow flake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold. Aristotle appreciate learning snow When we look at the matter from another point of view, great caution would seem to be required. For the habit of lightly changing the laws is an evil, and, when the advantage is small, some errors both of lawgivers and rulers had better be left; the citizen will not gain so much by making the change as he will lose by the habit of disobedience. Aristotle errors views law ...one Greek city state had a fundamental law: anyone proposing revisions to the constitution did so with a noose around his neck. If his proposal lost he was instantly hanged. Aristotle political cities law The two qualities which chiefly inspire regard and affection are that a thing is your own and that it is your only one. Aristotle inspiration inspire two Where perception is, there also are pain and pleasure, and where these are, there, of necessity, is desire. Aristotle pain perception desire This much then, is clear: in all our conduct it is the mean that is to be commended. Aristotle clear action mean Purpose is a desire for something in our own power, coupled with an investigation into its means. Aristotle purpose desire mean The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. Aristotle philosophical philosophy art Every realm of nature is marvelous. Aristotle marvelous realms Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered. Aristotle ought philosophical law The goal of war is peace, of business, leisure Aristotle business goal war Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim. Aristotle inquiry pursuit aim Definition of tragedy: A hero destroyed by the excess of his virtues Aristotle excess tragedy hero
