Action Quote by Aristotle
“Excellence or virtue is a settled disposition of the mind that determines our choice of actions and emotions and consists essentially in observing the mean relative to us ... a mean between two vices, that which depends on excess and that which depends on defect.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Nicomachean Ethics, 4th c. BC
Virtue is a balanced mental habit that guides actions and emotions, avoiding excess and deficiency.
In simple terms: Virtue is balanced habits guiding behavior.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate balanced habits.
Themes
virtue
balance
ethics
character
moderation
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- stress management
Key Concepts
Aristotelian ethics
golden mean
habit formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify excess in your habits?
- What steps help you maintain moderation?
A Different Perspective
Excess or deficiency can still undermine outcomes.
![“[Prudence] is the virtue of that part of the intellect [the calculative] to which it belongs; and . . . our choice of actions will not be right without Prudence any more than without Moral Virtue, since, while Moral Virtue enables us to achieve the end, Prudence makes us adopt the right means to…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be1/aristotle-78_achieve_prudence-is-the-virtue-of-that-part-of-t_431676.jpg)
