Accord Quote by Aristotle
“Therefore the good man ought to be a lover of self, since he will then both benefit himself by acting nobly and aid his fellows; but the bad man ought not to be a lover of self, since he will follow his base passions, and so injure both himself and his neighbors. With the bad man therefore, what he does is not in accord with what he ought to do, but the good man does what he ought, since intelligence always chooses for itself that which is best, and the good man obeys his intelligence.”
About This Quote
Source Nicomachean Ethics, Book IX, 4th century BC
A good person loves himself wisely, aligning actions with virtue, while a bad person follows base desires harming self and others.
In simple terms: Virtuous self‑love leads to good deeds; selfishness harms all.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate wise self‑interest.
Themes
ethics
self‑love
virtue
social responsibility
Mood
instructive
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- personal development
- community building
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
eudaimonia
rationality
moral psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does wise self‑love look like for you?
- How can you balance personal good with communal good?
A Different Perspective
Self‑love can become egoism if not guided by reason.
