When we take a look back at history, we find amazing personalities, the kind that helped shape the world as it is today. One of those legendary personalities is Aristotle, the Greek legend whose work and labor speak out even today. Many of his literature books are behind the main ideals of western development and history. It is safe to say that his work laid the foundation of early Christian and Islamic Philosophy.
Even during ancient times, Aristotle’s intellect had no match in the land, people from far off used to visit him for knowledge and guidance. He had some amazing accomplishments, as soon as he turned 18 he joined Plato’s academy as he wanted to follow in his footsteps and become like him.
Not to mention that he was also a private tutor to Alexander The Great. Aristotle had a whole new take on the world and thus he wrote numerous books on physics, history, logic, ethics, chemistry, botany, and biology. He is also known as the spiritual father of zoology as he basically laid the foundation of it, but most of it was still theoretical.
Aristotle’s Quotes That Changed The Perception Of Life
1. A constitution is the arrangement of magistrates in a state.
2. A friend to all is a friend to none.
3. A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility.
4. All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.
5. All human beings, by nature, desire to know.
6. All men by nature desire knowledge.
7. 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.
8. At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.
9. Change in all things is sweet.
10. Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion.
11. Comedy aims at representing men as worse, Tragedy as better than in actual life.
12. Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees the others.
13. Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.
14. Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.
15. Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.
16. Each man judges well the things he knows.
17. Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.
18. Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.
19. Equality consists in the same treatment of similar persons.
20. Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered.
21. Every rascal is not a thief, but every thief is a rascal.
22. Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
23. 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.
24. Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.
25. For what is the best choice, for each individual is the highest it is possible for him to achieve.
26. Friends hold a mirror up to each other; through that mirror, they can see each other in ways that would not otherwise be accessible to them, and it is this mirroring that helps them improve themselves as persons.
27. Friendship is essentially a partnership.
28. Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.
29. Happiness depends upon ourselves.
30. Happiness is an activity.
31. Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions.
32. Happiness is the settling of the soul into its most appropriate spot.
33. He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.
34. He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled.
35. Hope is a waking dream
36. I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.
37. I have gained this by the philosophy that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.
38. In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
39. It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
40. It is easy to perform a good action, but not easy to acquire a settled habit of performing such actions.
41. It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.
42. It is possible to fail in many ways…while to succeed is possible only in one way.
43. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
44. It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.
45. Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
46. Liars when they speak the truth are not believed.
47. Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
48. Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.
49. Man is by nature a political animal.
50. Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way.
51. Men are swayed more by fear than by reverence.
52. Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form but with regard to their mode of life.
53. Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.
54. Most people would rather give than get affection.
55. My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.
56. No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye.
57. No one would choose a friendless existence on the condition of having all the other things in the world.
58. Obstinate people can be divided into the opinionated, the ignorant, and the boorish.
59. Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved.
60. 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.
61. Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.
62. Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
63. Poetry demands a man with a special gift for it, or else one with a touch of madness in him.
64. Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular.
65. Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
66. Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities.
67. Quality is not an act, it is a habit.
68. Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotism.
69. Something is infinite if, taking it quantity by quantity, we can always take something outside.
70. Teenagers these days are out of control. They eat like pigs, they are disrespectful of adults, they interrupt and contradict their parents, and they terrorize their teachers.
71. The actuality of thought is life.
72. The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.
73. The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.
74. The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.
75. The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper.
76. The difference between a learned man and an ignorant one is the same as that between a living man and a corpse.
77. The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead.
78. The energy of the mind is the essence of life.
79. The gods too are fond of a joke.
80. The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor; it is the one thing that cannot be learned from others; and it is also a sign of genius since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity of the dissimilar.
The Inspirational Life Of Aristotle
Aristotle was a great ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, and one of the most influential thinkers in Western history. He was born in 384 BC in Stagira, a small city in Macedonia, and died in 322 BC in Chalcis. He was the student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great.
He was a philosopher in the strict sense, and his philosophy covered numerous areas, including logic, ethics, physics, metaphysics, rhetoric, zoology, and biology. He wrote several books on various topics, including Metaphysics, Nicomachean Ethics, and Politics. He also developed a system of deductive logic called the Organon that became the basis of modern logic.
Aristotle is best known for his works on ethics, which established the foundations of Western ethical thought. He believed that virtue is necessary for a good life and that it could be achieved by following a life of reason. His views on logic were also influential, and he developed syllogism, which is an important part of modern logic.
Aristotle‘s legacy remains strong to this day. His works are still studied and referenced in philosophy, ethics, and science, and his influence can be seen in many fields.
Life Lessons To Learn From Aristotle
Aristotle was one of the most influential thinkers of all time, and his teachings are still relevant today. He was a student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great, and his philosophies and life lessons have been studied for centuries. Aristotle‘s teachings on ethics, logic, and virtue provide a valuable source of wisdom for modern life.
His teachings on how to live a good life and make the most of our time and talents are still applicable today. By studying Aristotle‘s life and teachings, we can gain insight into the importance of creativity, resilience, and the power of knowledge. Through his works, Aristotle offers us timeless life lessons that can help us navigate the complexities of life and strive for excellence.
Pursue Excellence
Aristotle believed that the highest goal of human life was the pursuit of excellence. He believed that striving for excellence, rather than simply trying to attain material wealth or power, was the most meaningful way to live.
Reason Everything Out
Aristotle had a firm belief that the most important tool for understanding the world is important. He encouraged people to think things through, to question and analyze, and to remain open–minded about new ideas and theories.
Exercise Self Control
Aristotle believed that self–control was essential for living a meaningful life. He encouraged people to be mindful of their actions, to think before they acted, and to maintain a sense of moderation in all areas of life.
Cultivate Friendship
Work was not the only thing Aristotle was invested in. He held family and friends very close to his heart. For him, meaningful relationships with family and friends were essential for a happy and fulfilled life. He encouraged people to spend time with those they cared about, to be generous and kind, and to develop strong bonds of friendship.
Live A Balanced Life
Aristotle proved that balance was essential to leading a meaningful life. He encouraged people to pursue different activities, find time for leisure, and strive for overall harmony between the mind, body, and soul.
Recap
Aristotle was a great thinker who left a lasting legacy on philosophy, science, and politics. He has forever changed the way we view the world and his ideas and theories continue to shape our understanding of the universe. His methods of inquiry and his search for truth remain an inspiration to us all. Aristotle‘s ideas and teachings are timeless and will be remembered for generations to come.
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