Aristotle
Greek philosopher, 384-322 BC
40 quotes.
Quotes by Aristotle
- A friend is a second self.
- A friend is one soul abiding in two bodies.
- A friend to all is a friend to none.
- All that one gains by falsehood is, not to be believed when he speaks the truth.
- Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.
- Courage is the first of human virtues because it makes all others possible.
- Dignity consists not in possessing honours, but in deserving them.
- Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.
- Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.
- Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.
- For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, e.g. men become builders by building and lyreplayers by playing the lyre; so too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.
- For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing.
- He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.
- He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.
- I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.
- I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.
- In the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.
- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
- Life is only meaningful when we are striving for a goal.
- Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.
- Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.
- Our characters are the result of our conduct.
- Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
- Suffering becomes beautiful when any one bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility, but through greatness of mind.
- The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other people.
- The habits we form from childhood make no small difference, but rather they make all the difference.
- The moral virtues, then, are produced in us neither by nature nor against nature. Nature, indeed, prepares in us the ground for their reception, but their complete formation is the product of habit.
- The one exclusive sign of a thorough knowledge is the power of teaching.
- The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge.
- The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
- Those who educate children well are more to be honoured than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.
- Through discipline comes freedom.
- We become just by performing just action, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave action.
- Well begun is half done.
- Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.
- When men are friends, there is no need of justice; but when they are just, they still need friendship.
- Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.
- With regard to excellence, it is not enough to know, but we must try to have and use it.
- Without friends no one would choose to live, even if he had all other good things.