Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist born in the city of Stagira, Chalkidice, on the northern periphery of Classical Greece. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, whereafter Proxenus of Atarneus became his guardian. At eighteen, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of thirty-seven. His writings cover many subjects – including physics, biology, zoology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, aesthetics, poetry, theater, music, rhetoric, linguistics, politics and government – and constitute the first comprehensive system...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPhilosopher
If happiness is activity in accordance with excellence, it is reasonable that it should be in accordance with the highest excellence.
He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.
Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.
Character gives us qualities, but it is in actions - what we do - that we are happy or the reverse. ... All human happiness and misery take the form of action.
Gentleness is the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation, and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger, but be free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.
A friend of everyone is a friend of no one
How many a dispute could have been deflated into a single paragraph if the disputants had dared to define their terms
Happiness is activity.
It is possible to fail in many ways...while to succeed is possible only in one way.
If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development
We must not listen to those who advise us 'being men to think human thoughts, and being mortal to think mortal thoughts' but must put on immortality as much as possible and strain every nerve to live according to that best part of us, which, being small in bulk, yet much more in its power and honour surpasses all else.
It is their character indeed that makes people who they are. But it is by reason of their actions that they are happy or the reverse.
Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.
In the case of some people, not even if we had the most accurate scientific knowledge, would it be easy to persuade them were we to address them through the medium of that knowledge; for a scientific discourse, it is the privilege of education to appreciate, and it is impossible that this should extend to the multitude.