Acquire Quote by Aristotle
![“If a man of good natural disposition acquires Intelligence [as a whole], then he excels in conduct, and the disposition which previously only resembled Virtue, will now be Virtue in the true sense. Hence just as with the faculty of forming opinions [the calculative faculty] there are two…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89e/aristotle-78_acquire_if-a-man-of-good-natural-disposition-acq_342320.jpg)
“If a man of good natural disposition acquires Intelligence [as a whole], then he excels in conduct, and the disposition which previously only resembled Virtue, will now be Virtue in the true sense. Hence just as with the faculty of forming opinions [the calculative faculty] there are two qualities, Cleverness and Prudence, so also in the moral part of the soul there are two qualities, natural virtue and true Virtue; and true Virtue cannot exist without Prudence.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Nicomachean Ethics, Book VI, c. 350 BC
True virtue arises when natural disposition combines with prudence, turning good intentions into genuine moral excellence.
In simple terms: Virtue needs both character and wise judgment.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate both character and prudence.
Themes
virtue
prudence
character development
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- leadership decisions
- ethical dilemmas
- personal growth
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
human flourishing
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you practice prudence daily?
- Can you identify a moment when prudence turned a good intention into true virtue?
A Different Perspective
Without prudence, natural goodness remains incomplete.
![“[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)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
