Quotes from Aristotle

He is his own best friend, and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.

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

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.

We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage.

Courage is the first virtue that makes all other virtues possible.

We become just by performing just action, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave action.

Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence.

You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. –Aristotle

All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.

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.

What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions.

The eyes of some persons are large, others small, and others of a moderate size; the last-mentioned are the best. And some eyes are projecting, some deep-set, and some moderate, and those which are deep-set have the most acute vision in all animals; the middle position is a sign of the best disposition.

Friendship is essentially a partnership.

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.

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies

Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.

Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.

For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first.

He who hath many friends hath none.

Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

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

We should aim rather at leveling down our desires than leveling up our means.