If what was said in the Ethics is true, that the happy…
“If what was said in the Ethics is true, that the happy life is the life according to virtue lived without impediment, and that virtue is a mean, then the life which is in a mean, and in a mean attainable by every one, must be the best. And the same principles of virtue and vice are characteristic of cities and of constitutions; for the constitution is in a figure the life of the city.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Argues that the best life is virtuous, balanced, and accessible to all, mirroring a well-ordered city.
In simple terms: Virtue is a balanced mean leading to the good life.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate balanced virtues.
Themes
virtue
balance
politics
Mood
analytical
philosophical
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- personal development
- government policy
- education reform
- leadership training
Key Concepts
Aristotelian ethics
civic philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What does a balanced life look like for you?
- How can societies foster collective virtue?
A Different Perspective
Virtue may be hard to define universally.