Able Quote by Aristotle
“Virtue also depends on ourselves. And so also does vice. For where we are free to act we are also free to refrain from acting, and where we are able to say No we are also able to say Yes; if therefore we are responsible for doing a thing when to do it right, we are also responsible for not doing it when not to do it is wrong, and if we are responsible for rightly not doing a thing, we are also responsible for wrongly doing it.”
About This Quote
Moral agency requires both the capacity to act and the freedom to abstain; responsibility lies in choosing right actions and avoiding wrong ones.
In simple terms: Responsibility includes doing right and refraining from wrong.
Key Takeaway
Freedom entails accountability for both action and inaction.
Themes
ethics
responsibility
free will
moral agency
virtue
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
didactic
When to use this quote
- making ethical decisions
- leadership dilemmas
- personal moral choices
Key Concepts
choice
consequence
autonomy
Practical Applications
- ethical training programs
- decision‑making frameworks
Questions to Reflect On
- When does inaction become a moral failure?
- How does freedom shape responsibility?
