Excellence is an art won by training and habituation: we…
““Excellence is an art won by training and habituation: we do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have these because we have acted rightly; 'these virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions'; we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit: 'the good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life... for as it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Excellence arises from repeated right actions, not innate virtue; habits shape character and happiness over time.
In simple terms: Excellence is built through habit, not just virtue.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate good habits to achieve excellence.
Themes
habit formation
virtue
excellence
character development
philosophy
Mood
inspirational
motivational
Type
philosophical
self‑help
When to use this quote
- personal development
- education
- leadership
- sports training
Key Concepts
Aristotelian ethics
self‑improvement
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What daily habits can you start today?
- How do you measure progress in habit formation?
A Different Perspective
Habits require sustained effort and may be hard to maintain.