Action Quote by Aristotle
“In cases of this sort, let us say adultery, rightness and wrongness do not depend on committing it with the right woman at the right time and in the right manner, but the mere fact of committing such action at all is to do wrong.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Nicomachean Ethics, Book III, 350 BC
Moral actions are intrinsically wrong regardless of context, timing, or participants; the act itself defines its immorality.
In simple terms: Some actions are wrong just because they are performed.
Key Takeaway
Judge actions by their inherent nature, not circumstances.
Themes
morality
ethics
intrinsic wrongness
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legal judgments
- personal relationships
- policy making
- ethical training
Key Concepts
deontology
virtue ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Is every act judged solely by its nature?
- Can intent ever justify a wrong act?
A Different Perspective
Context may affect severity but not the fundamental wrongness.
