Aristotle was a great Greek philosopher who lived during 384–322 BC. A student of another great philosopher-Plato, he wrote on many subjects like Physics, Biology, Ethics, economics, politics, psychology, music and government. He founded Lyceum, which was the school dedicated to peripatetic philosophy. He is credited for the generation of western lexicon and problems and methods of enquiry. He is also known for tutoring the great military general, Alexander the Great. He was referred to as The First Teacher and The Philosopher by people of different faiths as his teachings influenced various religions.
Following are some of the well-known quotes by Aristotle which are still popular and relevant in today's time.
No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.
Great men are called so for they did something that wasn't possible by the common men. To be able to pull off such a feat, a person should have extraordinary dedication towards his goal. Such one-minded thinking can be, in a sense called crazy. They sacrifice things that others are not capable of, and this is what gives them an edge.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
One should be able to ponder over an idea, evaluate its full potential, its pros and cons without getting consumed by it. This is what a smart person is capable of; he is aware of the degree of influence a thought has on him, and he knows when the influence is too much.
I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.
The greatest battle is to defeat one's thoughts. It is very difficult to control our minds, in fact, there is no way of stopping a thought from entering our heads. However, what we can do is, not let it affect you by monitoring the emotions it incites. Once, you can control your mind, you are capable enough to do anything you desire.
It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.
Desires are endless. Each desire gives birth to another one. Although there is nothing wrong with desires, to find your happiness only in the realisation of these desires is foolish. Since there is no assurance when you will see them fulfilled or if you will at all. Hence, try to find happiness in every situation irrespective of your desires.
He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.
You need to be a good follower only then you will follow the rules of self-discipline you imposed on yourself. If you are not strong enough to control your own distractions, laziness and pessimism, you can never do the same for others. If you have to become a good leader, then don't preach but set an example for others to follow. And to set an example, you need to be exemplary!
He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.
Only once you learn how to let go of fear and not be dictated by it, can you freely take decisions. Freedom is all about being able to do whatever you want. But fear of failure, humiliation, criticism, ill health etc. always stops us from taking the first step. These fears leave us into a deep lapse of inactivity and procrastination. You need to learn to let go of these failures only then will you be able to exercise your freedom to its fullest.
Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.
Misfortune can be a great teacher. When failure or adversity strikes, it teaches us where exactly we stand. It helps us understands our weaknesses. Not just that, but misfortune can also help us know who our real friends are. The fake ones will abandon us when we no longer serve their agendas. Real ones will stick around, especially when we need them the most.
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.
Anger is often construed negatively. We see it as a loss of one's control and discipline, as a mortifying overreaction of one's emotion. And mostly it has gained a bad reputation for its ill after-effects. But in its true form, anger is a quality or rather our body's way of telling us what doesn't work us; the difference between right and wrong; and making us realise our true feelings and desires. To make use of this emotion correctly and not in a way that will bring regrets, we need practice.
Practice controlling your anger except when certain situations conflict with your most important beliefs. Getting angry over the right cause, with the right person at the right time without causing anyone any harm can be of great help.
Some more quotes by Aristotle....
Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of time and is forgotten through the lapse of time.
Time can make everyone humble. All living things disintegrate as time passes until they are all lost. Accept time as the most powerful entity and thus, honour it.
Learning is not child's play; we cannot learn without pain.
Learning is not for weak-hearted. It requires courage and self-discipline. It also requires passion for following it through and not quit when things get tough. It requires dedication, commitment and focus.
The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.
Wise people don't consider other's opinion when making a decision. They look at the facts of the situation, of the people involved and its future consequences. They don't waste their time thinking about others who might not have anything to do with the situation at present or in future.
Quality is not an act, it is a habit.
Quality is not the result of a one-time act. Qualities are developed through intentional training and regular practice. It is about choosing the right alternative, one which is going to make you a better and stronger person in some way. You need to keep on making this choice every day.
Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.
He believes courage is pivotal for inculcating other qualities in a person. It is a primary quality as only the person who possesses courage will be willing to go through great lengths to improve themselves and instil other qualities like conscientiousness, compassion and kindness.
The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.
Struggle for equality is a perpetual one. Our world is constantly fighting for one or the other form of equality- equal rights for all genders and sexual orientation, equality for people of all faith and races, equality for people of all social strata etc. It is important that every person gets equal opportunities and respect; only then they can progress. However, according to Aristotle, sometimes in giving everyone the same status, we also tend to lose their uniqueness and features that make them special. This is the worst kind of equality and should be looked out for.
The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
It is one of his most popular quotes of all times. It refers to the synergistic effect of things. The effect of parts when come together is much more compared to the summation of their effects separately.
The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.
A best of men doesn't lose control over his emotions even when struck with worst of circumstances. When he is down with failure or mishappening, he faces it gracefully. He manages the situation, without letting it get the best of him. He doesn't abandon hope and grabs the new opportunities that the event might have brought.
Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.
When we are young, we are very influential. Aristotle says the reason behind this is that we are filled with hope as at this point our childhood had culminated and we are staring at our adulthood of freedom and responsibilities. We tend to be dreamy and ambitious and let our emotions rather than rationality influence our decisions. This can make us susceptible.
Nature does nothing in vain.
In nature, if one observes closely, he will find that everything that happens follows logic and reason. Every event leads to some sensible and significant outcomes that help the existence of mankind. None of the work is useless and just for show. Maybe we can learn something from them too.
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.
No one succeeds accidentally, even if they do its short-lived. It is an intentional series of actions taken towards a clearly-defined goal. It is the result after making right decisions and working sincerely and intently. It is a choice to be successful and excellent in work and not some stroke of luck.
Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.
We should not need other's validation to feel more honourable and dignified. There awards and appreciation is secondary; first, you need to feel dignified about yourself. You should respect yourself and keep yourself in high regards. Do things in a manner that shows the same. Treat yourself with respect only then will others realise your worth too and refer to you similarly.
Best Quotes by Aristotle
Following are some of the famous quotes by Aristotle which are still popular:
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To perceive is to suffer.
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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.
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To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man.
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It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
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Wit is educated insolence.
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The secret to humor is surprise.
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The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.
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I have gained this by philosophy … I do without being ordered what some are constrained to do by their fear of the law.
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I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.
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The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.
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The gods too are fond of a joke.
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Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
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youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.
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Happiness depends upon ourselves.
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Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
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Happiness is a state of activity.
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Happiness is a quality of the soul...not a function of one's material circumstances.
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Hope is a waking dream.
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Even subjects that are known are known only to a few.
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Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.
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The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living differ from the dead.
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Learning is an ornament in prosperity, a refuge in adversity, and a provision in old age.
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Adventure is worthwhile.
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Time crumbles things everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.
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All Earthquakes and Disasters are warnings there’s too much corruption in the world
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He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.
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Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.
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What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
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Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.
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A friend to all is a friend to none.
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The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.
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Democracy arose from men's thinking that if they are equal in any respect, they are equal absolutely.
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He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled
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He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.
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Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
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Tis the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
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Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.
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The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances."— Aristotle
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You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. –Aristotle
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Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
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The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.
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Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.
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Political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not of mere companionship.
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Happiness is activity of soul.
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One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
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Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.
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It is also in the interests of the tyrant to make his subjects poor... the people are so occupied with their daily tasks that they have no time for plotting.
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Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.
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It is a part of probability that many improbabilities will happen.
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Anyone can get angry, but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy.
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Those who are not angry at the things they should be angry at are thought to be fools, and so are those who are not angry in the right way, at the right time, or with the right persons.
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All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.
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Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion.
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Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved.
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The end toward which all human acts are directed is happiness.
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The saddest of all tragedies - the wasted life
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Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because life is sweet and they are growing.
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Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.
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Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
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I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.
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It is impossible, or not easy, to alter by argument what has long been absorbed by habit
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Human beings are by nature political animals
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No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.
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No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.- Aristotle (Attributed by Seneca in Moral Essays, "De Tranquillitate Animi" On Tranquility of Mind, sct. 17, subsct. 10.)
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Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.
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Criticism is something you can easily avoid — by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.
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There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.
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Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.
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The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace making the best of circumstances.
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Art not only imitates nature but also completes its deficiencies.
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To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.
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Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
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The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.
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Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.
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Without friends no one would choose to live though he had all other goods.
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A true friend is one soul in two bodies.
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We should behave to our friends as we would wish our friends to behave to us.
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Between friends there is no need of justice.
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Wishing to be friends is quick work but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.
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My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.
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In poverty and other misfortunes of life true friends are a sure refuge.
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There is no great genius without a mixture of madness.
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Honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.
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All men seek one goal: success or happiness.
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God has many names though He is only one Being.
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Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life the whole aim and end of human existence
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Different men seek ... happiness in different ways and by different means.
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Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions.
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Happiness seems to require a modicum of external prosperity.
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Dignity does not consist in possessing honours but in deserving them.
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Humour is the only test of gravity and gravity of humour for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious and a jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit.
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No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.
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All men by nature desire to know.
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Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life the whole aim and end of human existence.
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The physician heals Nature makes well.
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It is best to rise from life as from a banquet neither thirsty nor drunken.
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In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
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Quality is not an act. It is a habit.
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It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skilfully.
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Man is by nature a civic animal.
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We become just by performing just actions temperate by performing temperate actions brave by performing brave actions.
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Life is full of chances and changes and the most prosperous of men may ... meet with great misfortunes.
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Revolutions are not about trifles but spring from trifles.
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Different men seek after happiness in different ways and by different means and so make for themselves different modes of life.
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What lies in our power to do it lies in our power not to do.
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I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies the hardest victory is the victory over self.
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Shame is an ornament to the young a disgrace to the old.
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A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one.
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Melancholy men are of all others the most witty.
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Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.
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We make war that we may live in peace.
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The end of labor is to gain leisure.
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Man is by nature a political animal.
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All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.
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Nature does nothing in vain.
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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.
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If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature's way.
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Therefore, the good of man must be the end of the science of politics.
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The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching.
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To run away from trouble is a form of cowardice and, while it is true that the suicide braves death, he does it not for some noble object but to escape some ill.
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If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost.
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Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.
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Education is the best provision for old age.
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Bashfulness is an ornament to youth, but a reproach to old age.
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Different men seek after happiness in different ways and by different means, and so make for themselves different modes of life and forms of government.
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Politicians also have no leisure, because they are always aiming at something beyond political life itself, power and glory, or happiness.
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There is no great genius without some touch of madness.
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The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.
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The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.
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What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.
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In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme.
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Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.
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He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god.
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To attain any assured knowledge about the soul is one of the most difficult things in the world.
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Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence.
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I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.
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Men are swayed more by fear than by reverence.
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Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth.
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Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.
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The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.
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You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
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Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind.
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Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference.
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Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. This is not a function of any other art.
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It is Homer who has chiefly taught other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.
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Homer has taught all other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.
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Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.
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Friendship is essentially a partnership.
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He who hath many friends hath none.
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Quality is not an act, it is a habit.
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Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.
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The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
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Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.
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The virtue of justice consists in moderation, as regulated by wisdom.
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Excellence, then, is a state concerned with choice, lying in a mean, relative to us, this being determined by reason and in the way in which the man of practical wisdom would determine it.
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Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are rather of the nature of universals, whereas those of history are singulars.
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Bad men are full of repentance.
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It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.
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Those who excel in virtue have the best right of all to rebel, but then they are of all men the least inclined to do so.
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Change in all things is sweet.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered a list of some of the best Aristotle Quotes on Education, Love, Life, Politics and Happiness. Hope you liked them and would adopt them in your life!
Co-author: Shreya Arya
A digital marketing enthusiast with experience in HR and hospital management, Shreya has wide interests ranging from philosophy, psychology to latest trends in automation. She is also a freelance content writer and loves lending beautiful words to ideas and feelings.
