--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If, then, there is some end of the things…" description: "\"If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake (everything else being desired for the sake of this), and if we do no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/aristotle-78_chiefs_if-then-there-is-some-end-of-the-things_831837.jpg" --- # If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we… ![“If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake (everything else being desired for the sake of this), and if we do not choose everything for the sake of something else (for at that rate the process would go on to infinity, so that our desire would be empty and…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/aristotle-78_chiefs_if-then-there-is-some-end-of-the-things_831837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/aristotle-78_chiefs_if-then-there-is-some-end-of-the-things_831837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/aristotle-78_chiefs_if-then-there-is-some-end-of-the-things_831837.jpg) > “If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake (everything else being desired for the sake of this), and if we do not choose everything for the sake of something else (for at that rate the process would go on to infinity, so that our desire would be empty and vain), clearly this must be the good and the chief good.” [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The highest good is an end pursued for its own sake, not as a means to something else; this self‑sufficient good is the chief aim of life. **In simple terms:** The ultimate good is valued for itself. Key Takeaway Seek self‑sufficient purpose. Themes ethics purpose philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career choices - personal goals - education - spiritual practice Key Concepts eudaimonia final cause Questions to Reflect On - What do you value for its own sake? - Can multiple ends coexist? A Different Perspective Defining a singular ultimate good may ignore complex, pluralistic values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [If then nature makes nothing without some end in view, nothing to no purpose, it must be that nature has made all of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-then-nature-makes-nothing-without-some-end-in-view-nothing-to-no/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If then it be possible that one contrary should exist, or be called into existence, the other contrary will also appear to be possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-then-it-be-possible-that-one-contrary-should-exist-or-be-called/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If then, as we say, good craftsmen look to the mean as they work, and if virtue, like nature, is more accurate and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-then-as-we-say-good-craftsmen-look-to-the-mean-as-they-work-and-if/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake (everything else being desired for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-then-there-is-some-end-of-the-things-we-do-which-we-desire-for-its-2/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Some men turn every quality or art into a means of making money; this they conceive to be the end, and to the promotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/some-men-turn-every-quality-or-art-into-a-means-of-making-money-this/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake, clearly this must be the good. Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-there-is-some-end-of-the-things-we-do-which-we-desire-for-its-own/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is better to desire the things we have than to have the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-better-to-desire-the-things-we-have-than-to-have-the-things-we/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [“He knew that those things we most desire to hold in our hearts are often taken from us while that which we would put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-knew-that-those-things-we-most-desire-to-hold-in-our-hearts-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is often less danger in the things we fear than in the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-churton-collins/there-is-often-less-danger-in-the-things-we-fear-than-in-the-things/) [John Churton Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-churton-collins/) > [He who has few things to desire cannot have many to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/he-who-has-few-things-to-desire-cannot-have-many-to-fear/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Things unhoped for happen oftener than things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/things-unhoped-for-happen-oftener-than-things-we-desire/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [We are disgusted by the things that we desire, and we desire what disgusts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/we-are-disgusted-by-the-things-that-we-desire-and-we-desire-what/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for any one the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baha-u-llah/lay-not-on-any-soul-a-load-that-you-would-not-wish-to-be-laid-upon/) [Bahá'u'lláh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baha-u-llah/) > [We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-should-desire-very-few-things-passionately-if-we-did-but-perfectly/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [To understand the limitation of things, desire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-understand-the-limitation-of-things-desire-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Aristotle > [The knowledge of the soul admittedly contributes greatly to the advance of truth in general, and, above all, to our understanding of Nature, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-knowledge-of-the-soul-admittedly-contributes-greatly-to-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. 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