Bad man Quote by Aristotle
““And so the good man ought to be Self-loving: because by doing what is noble he will have advantage himself and will do good to others: but the bad man ought not to be, because he will harm himself and his neighbours by following low and evil passions. In the case of the bad man, what he ought to do and what he does are at variance, but the good man does what he ought to do, because all Intellect chooses what is best for itself and the good man puts himself under the direction of Intellect.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, 350 BC
Aristotle argues that self‑love is virtuous when guided by intellect, while self‑destructive passions harm both self and community.
In simple terms: Good self‑love follows reason; bad self‑love follows vice.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate rational self‑respect.
Themes
virtue
self‑love
intellect
ethics
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
didactic
balanced
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal development
- leadership
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
philosophy
moral psychology
rationalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does rational self‑love look like in daily life?
- How can we prevent self‑interest from harming others?
A Different Perspective
Self‑love can become selfishness if not balanced with communal good.
