The happy life is thought to be one of excellence; now an excellent life requires exertion, and does not consist in amusement.
—Aristotle
Topics: Excellence
Watch the costs and the profits will take care of themselves.
—Aristotle
Democracy arose from men’s thinking that if they are equal in any respect, they are equal absolutely.
—Aristotle
Topics: Freedom, Democracy
All that one gains by falsehood is, not to be believed when he speaks the truth.
—Aristotle
It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world.
—Aristotle
Topics: Appearance, Ideas
A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one.
—Aristotle
Topics: City Life, Cities
Virtue is more clearly shown in the performance of fine actions than in the non-performance of base ones.
—Aristotle
Topics: Performance
Again, men in general desire the good, and not merely what their fathers had.
—Aristotle
Topics: Desire
The greatest injustices proceed from those who pursue excess, not by those who are driven by necessity.
—Aristotle
Topics: Justice
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.
—Aristotle
Topics: Democracy
Melancholy men are of all others the most witty.
—Aristotle
Topics: Wit, Humor
For what is the best choice, for each individual is the highest it is possible for him to achieve.
—Aristotle
Topics: Success & Failure, Choice, Achievement
Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.
—Aristotle
Topics: Property
Praise invariably implies a reference to a higher standard.
—Aristotle
Topics: Praise
Cruel is the strife of brothers.
—Aristotle
Topics: Family
Justice is to give to every man his own.
—Aristotle
Topics: Justice
All men by nature desire to know.
—Aristotle
Topics: Knowledge, Desire, Nature
The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.
—Aristotle
Topics: Awareness, Survival
This is the reason why mothers are more devoted to their children than fathers: it is that they suffer more in giving them birth and are more certain that they are their own.
—Aristotle
Topics: Parents, Children
Wicked men obey out of fear; good men, out of love.
—Aristotle
Topics: Love
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
—Aristotle
Topics: Perfection, Enthusiasm, Business, Work, Excellence, Jobs
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.
—Aristotle
Topics: Solitude, Society
Friends are an aid to the young, to guard them from error; to the elderly, to attend to their wants and to supplement their failing power of action; to those in the prime of life, to assist them to noble deeds.
—Aristotle
Topics: Friendship
Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities.
—Aristotle
Topics: Philosophy, Possibilities, Potential
The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.
—Aristotle
Topics: Honesty, Truth
Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions.
—Aristotle
Topics: Happiness, Action
For both excessive and insufficient exercise destroy one’s strength, and both eating and drinking too much or too little destroy health, whereas the right quantity produces, increases or preserves it. So it is the same with temperance, courage and the other virtues…This much then, is clear: in all our conduct it is the mean that is to be commended.
—Aristotle
Topics: Action
It is the mark of an instructed mind to rest satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject admits and not to seek exactness when only an approximation of the truth is possible.
—Aristotle
Topics: Excellence
All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.
—Aristotle
Topics: Virtue, Justice, Virtues
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.
—Aristotle
Topics: Class
Therefore, the good of man must be the end of the science of politics.
—Aristotle
Topics: Politics
Bad men are full of repentance.
—Aristotle
Topics: Forgiveness, Repentance
Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses or avoids.
—Aristotle
Topics: Character, Class
Happiness is a sort of action.
—Aristotle
Topics: Happiness
The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.
—Aristotle
Topics: Equality
The basis of a democratic state is liberty.
—Aristotle
Topics: Liberty
Teaching is the highest form of understanding.
—Aristotle
Topics: One liners, Teaching
It is easy to perform a good action, but not easy to acquire a settled habit of performing such actions.
—Aristotle
Topics: Goodness
There is a foolish corner even in the brain of the sage.
—Aristotle
Topics: Fools
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all
—Aristotle
Topics: Heart
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Plato Ancient Greek Philosopher
Xenocrates Greek Philosopher, Scientist
Heraclitus Ancient Greek Philosopher
Epictetus Ancient Greek Philosopher
Epicurus Greek Philosopher
Bias of Priene Greek Orator
Plotinus Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mystic
Charles Sanders Peirce American Philosopher
Pythagoras Greek Philosopher
Euripides Ancient Greek Dramatist