Giving Quote by Aristotle
“We give up leisure in order that we may have leisure, just as we go to war in order that we may have peace.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Nicomachean Ethics, Book X, c. 350 BC
Leisure is achieved by sacrificing immediate pleasure for a higher purpose, akin to fighting for peace.
In simple terms: Work now for future freedom.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize long-term freedom over short-term comfort.
Themes
philosophy
ethics
leisure
purpose
self-discipline
Mood
reflective
determined
inspirational
Type
aphilosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career planning
- education
- military service
- spiritual practice
- personal development
Key Concepts
Aristotelian ethics
teleology
virtue theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What long‑term freedom are you willing to sacrifice today?
- How do you balance immediate pleasure with future goals?
A Different Perspective
May neglect personal well‑being and lead to burnout if balance is ignored.
![“Now that practical skills have developed enough to provide adequately for material needs, one of these sciences which are not devoted to utilitarian ends [mathematics] has been able to arise in Egypt, the priestly caste there having the leisure necessary for disinterested research.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ee/aristotle-78_able_now-that-practical-skills-have-developed_114834.jpg)
