Character Quote by Aristotle
““None of the moral virtues is engendered in us by nature, for no natural property can be altered by habit.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Nicomachean Ethics, c. 350 BC
Virtues are not innate; they develop through repeated actions and habits.
In simple terms: Virtues are learned by habit, not born.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate good habits to develop moral character.
Themes
virtue ethics
habit formation
education
Mood
reflective
instructive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- daily routines
- educational curricula
- personal discipline
- role modeling
Key Concepts
moral development
philosophy
character building
Questions to Reflect On
- Which habits could you practice to become more virtuous?
- How does habit shape moral character?
A Different Perspective
Habits alone may not guarantee virtue without reflection; null.
![“[the virtues] cannot exist without Prudence. A proof of this is that everyone, even at the present day, in defining Virtue, after saying what disposition it is [i.e. moral virtue] and specifying the things with which it is concerned, adds that it is a disposition determined by the right principle…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/134/aristotle-78_add_the-virtues-cannot-exist-without-prudenc_3029435.jpg)
![“Rightness in our choice of an end is secured by [Moral] Virtue.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/498/aristotle-78_character_rightness-in-our-choice-of-an-end-is-sec_2740950.jpg)
![“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)
