Character Quote by Aristotle
“Again, it is possible to fail in many ways (for evil belongs to the class of the unlimited and good to that of the limited), while to succeed is possible only in one way (for which reason also one is easy and the other difficult—to miss the mark easy, to hit it difficult); for these reasons also, then, excess and defect are characteristic of vice, and the mean of virtue; For men are good in but one way, but bad in many.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Nichomachean Ethics, Book II
Virtue lies in the mean between excess and deficiency; many ways to err, but only one right path.
In simple terms: Good is a balanced middle; many ways to bad.
Key Takeaway
Aim for balance; avoid extremes.
Themes
ethics
virtue
balance
human nature
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
didactic
When to use this quote
- decision making
- leadership
- personal conduct
- education
Key Concepts
golden mean
moral psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify the appropriate middle ground?
- When might excess be justified?
A Different Perspective
Finding the mean can be subjective and culturally variable.
