Aristotle Quotes (367 Quotes)

There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.

Happiness is activity.

The best political community is formed by citizens of the middle class.

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

No one loves the man whom he fears.

In practical matters the end is not mere speculative knowledge of what is to be done, but rather the doing of it. It is not enough to know about Virtue, then, but we must endeavor to possess it, and to use it, or to take any other steps that may make

A nose which varies from the ideal of straightness to a hook or snub may still be of good shape and agreeable to the eye.

Nor was civil society founded merely to preserve the lives of its members but that they might live well for otherwise a state might be composed of slaves, or the animal creation... nor is it an alliance mutually to defend each other from injuries, or for a commercial intercourse. But whosoever endeavors to establish wholesome laws in a state, attends to the virtues and vices of each individual who composes it from whence it is evident, that the first care of him who would found a city, truly deserving that name, and not nominally so, must be to have his citizens virtuous.

The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.

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 man who gets angry at the right things and with the right people, and in the right way and at the right time and for the right length of time, is commended.

To write well, express yourself like common people, but think like a wise man. Or, think as wise men do, but speak as the common people do.

It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world.

Good has two meanings it means that which is good absolutely and that which is good for somebody.

It is this simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences.

Beauty is the gift of God.

In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third the proper arrangement of the various parts of the speech.

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.

Every science and every inquiry, and similarly every activity and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good.

We must as second best ... take the least of the evils.

Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body, but knowledge acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.

Since the things we do determine the character of life, no blessed person can become unhappy. For he will never do those things which are hateful and petty.

That in the soul which is called the mind is, before it thinks, not actually any real thing.

No great genius is without an admixture of madness.

That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.

The wise man does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life - knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live.

The generality of men are naturally apt to be swayed by fear rather than reverence, and to refrain from evil rather because of the punishment that it brings than because of its own foulness.

The law is reason, free from passion.

To learn is a natural pleasure, not confined to philosophers, but common to all men

Civil confusions often spring from trifles but decide great issues

Cruel is the strife of brothers.

Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.

Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.

Where some people are very wealthy and others have nothing, the result will be either extreme democracy or absolute oligarchy, or despotism will come from either of those excesses.

Humor is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit.

Happiness seems to require a modicum of external prosperity

To the sober person adventurous conduct often seems insanity.

The best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.

He overcomes a stout enemy who overcomes his own anger.

Whatsoever that be within us that feels, thinks, desires, and animates, is something celestial, divine, and, consequently, imperishable.

Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence; for these wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves.

There is no great genius without a mixture of madness.

It is more difficult to organize peace than to win a war but the fruits of victory will be lost if the peace is not well organized.

Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth.

All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.

Democracy arose from men's thinking that if they are equal in any respect, they are equal absolutely.

No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye.

Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind.

The beginning of reform is not so much to equalize property as to train the noble sort of natures not to desire more, and to prevent the lower from getting more.

Men are swayed more by fear than by reverence.