Quotes from Aristotle

Life is full of chances and changes, and the most prosperous of men may...meet with great misfortunes.

Most people would rather give than get affection.

Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses or avoids

Revolutions are not trifles, but spring from trifles.

While those whom devotion to abstract discussions has rendered unobservant of the facts are too ready to dogmatize on the basis of a few observations.

No one will dare maintain that it is better to do injustice than to bear it.

Anger is always concerned with individuals, ... whereas hatred is directed also against classes: we all hate any thief and any informer. Moreover, anger can be cured by time; but hatred cannot. The one aims at giving pain to its object, the other at doing him harm; the angry man wants his victim to feel; the hater does not mind whether they feel or not.

Madness is badness of spirit, when one seeks profit from all sources.

Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is sweet and they are growing.

All men by nature desire knowledge...

Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all.

For well-being and health, again, the homestead should be airy in summer, and sunny in winter. A homestead possessing these qualities would be longer than it is deep; and its main front would face the south.

He overcomes a stout enemy who overcomes his own anger.

The most perfect political community must be amongst those who are in the middle rank, and those states are best instituted wherein these are a larger and more respectable part, if possible, than both the other; or, if that cannot be, at least than either of them separate.

To become an able man in any profession, there are three things necessary -- nature, study, and practice.

Time is not composed of indivisible nows any more than any other magnitude is composed of indivisibles.

They should rule who are able to rule best.

One can aim at honor both as one ought, and more than one ought, and less than one ought. He whose craving for honor is excessive is said to be ambitious, and he who is deficient in this respect unambitious; while he who observes the mean has no peculiar name.

It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of reason is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs.

For the purposes of poetry a convincing impossibility is preferable to an unconvincing possibility.

The man fit to command may be compared with the architect, who adjusts the plan and directs its execution. His skill must extend to every part of the work; that of his workmen is limited by their respective tasks.

Wit is well-bred insolence.

The brave man, if he be compared with the coward, seems foolhardy; and, if with the foolhardy man, seems a coward.

The most beautiful colors, laid on confusedly, will not give as much pleasure as the chalk outline of a portrait.