Character Quote by Aristotle
“Moral qualities are so constituted as to be destroyed by excess and by deficiency . . .”
About This Quote
Source Book: Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle, c. 350 BC
Moral virtues are a balance; too much or too little destroys them.
In simple terms: Virtues need a middle ground.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance in character.
Themes
virtue
balance
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- personal development
- conflict resolution
- health habits
Key Concepts
Aristotelian ethics
golden mean
Questions to Reflect On
- What virtue do you tend to overdo?
- How can you cultivate moderation?
A Different Perspective
Excess can be beneficial in some contexts.
![“If then, as we say, good craftsmen look to the mean as they work, and if virtue, like nature, is more accurate and better than any form of art, it will follow that virtue has the quality of hitting the mean. I refer to moral virtue [not intellectual], for this is concerned with emotions and…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/796/aristotle-78_accurate_if-then-as-we-say-good-craftsmen-look-to_695282.jpg)
