--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you see a man approaching with the…" description: "\"If you see a man approaching with the obvious intent of doing you good, run for your life. Consider pleasures as they depart, not as they come.\" — Aris..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/aristotle-78_approaching_if-you-see-a-man-approaching-with-the-ob_2888885.png" --- # If you see a man approaching with the obvious intent of… ![“If you see a man approaching with the obvious intent of doing you good, run for your life. Consider pleasures as they depart, not as they come.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/aristotle-78_approaching_if-you-see-a-man-approaching-with-the-ob_2888885.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/aristotle-78_approaching_if-you-see-a-man-approaching-with-the-ob_2888885.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/aristotle-78_approaching_if-you-see-a-man-approaching-with-the-ob_2888885.png) > “If you see a man approaching with the obvious intent of doing you good, run for your life. Consider pleasures as they depart, not as they come.” [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. Beware of those who seem helpful; enjoy pleasures as they fade, not while they arrive. **In simple terms:** Caution with apparent benefactors; savor fleeting pleasures. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant and appreciate present joys. Themes caution pleasure trust philosophy Mood skeptical thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal relationships - financial decisions - health choices Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - When is trust appropriate? - How to balance caution with openness? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizing can breed paranoia. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [If you see a man approaching you with the obvious intent of doing you good, you should run for your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-you-see-a-man-approaching-you-with-the-obvious-intent-of-doing-you/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Consider pleasures as they depart, not as they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/consider-pleasures-as-they-depart-not-as-they-come/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Don’t focus on the mishaps; consider the pleasures instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/don-t-focus-on-the-mishaps-consider-the-pleasures-instead/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day knowing someone on the other side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-greater-happiness-for-a-man-than-approaching-a-door-at-2/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [When I observed a strong man approaching I generally took advantage of him by being a little quicker than he was and seizing him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/when-i-observed-a-strong-man-approaching-i-generally-took-advantage/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [We need to go to the niceties of approaching the U. N. and let them have a chance to take it over, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-odom/we-need-to-go-to-the-niceties-of-approaching-the-u-n-and-let-them/) [William Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-odom/) > [It took me way beyond what I knew, into places of which I was totally scared, but as I became less frightened, I welcomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/it-took-me-way-beyond-what-i-knew-into-places-of-which-i-was-totally/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/to-me-unconventional-thinking-is-approaching-a-problem-and-asking-why/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I'm approaching 70. Unfortunately, from the wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-m-approaching-70-unfortunately-from-the-wrong-direction/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [“Approaching a police car is a very dangerous activity to engage in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/approaching-a-police-car-is-a-very-dangerous-activity-to-engage-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“it’s really just taking action—whether that’s approaching someone you’re intimidated by or deciding to finally crack a book on a subject you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-really-just-taking-action-whether-that-s-approaching-someone-you/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [When I'm at my best, I'm trying to destabilize myself and figure out new ways of approaching art as a provocation. I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/when-i-m-at-my-best-i-m-trying-to-destabilize-myself-and-figure-out/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Seven years into writing a novel, I started to lose my mind. My thirty-seventh birthday had just come and gone, the end of 2008…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/seven-years-into-writing-a-novel-i-started-to-lose-my-mind-my-thirty/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [This is a time when the United States should be standing tall. There is no other leader in the world today. We shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/this-is-a-time-when-the-united-states-should-be-standing-tall-there/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [What's the fun in approaching something closed-minded? I'm very specific; if dialogue is too on-the-nose, or there's a lot of telling and not showing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rothhaar/what-s-the-fun-in-approaching-something-closed-minded-i-m-very/) [Will Rothhaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rothhaar/) ## 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. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The body is at its best between the ages of thirty and thirty-five; the mind is at its best about the age of forty-nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-body-is-at-its-best-between-the-ages-of-thirty-and-thirty-five/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Although it may be difficult in theory to know what is just and equal, the practical difficulty of inducing those to forbear who can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/although-it-may-be-difficult-in-theory-to-know-what-is-just-and-equal/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The true forms of government, therefore, are those in which the one, or the few, or the many, govern with a view to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-true-forms-of-government-therefore-are-those-in-which-the-one-or/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [All men by nature desire to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-men-by-nature-desire-to-know/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-persons-ought-to-endeavor-to-follow-what-is-right-and-not-what-is/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Give a man a poisoned fish, you feed him for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/give-a-man-a-fish-you-feed-him-for-a-day-give-a-man-a-poisoned-fish/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The man who confers a favour would rather not be repaid in the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-man-who-confers-a-favour-would-rather-not-be-repaid-in-the-same/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mother of revolution and crime is poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-mother-of-revolution-and-crime-is-poverty/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Obstinate people can be divided into the opinionated, the ignorant, and the boorish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/obstinate-people-can-be-divided-into-the-opinionated-the-ignorant-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [To learn is a natural pleasure, not confined to philosophers, but common to all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/to-learn-is-a-natural-pleasure-not-confined-to-philosophers-but/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Every virtue is a mean between two extremes, each of which is a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-virtue-is-a-mean-between-two-extremes-each-of-which-is-a-vice/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) [Explore all 1,545 Aristotle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More Approaching quotes > [What's the fun in approaching something closed-minded? I'm very specific; if dialogue is too on-the-nose, or there's a lot of telling and not showing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rothhaar/what-s-the-fun-in-approaching-something-closed-minded-i-m-very/) [Will Rothhaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rothhaar/) > [This is a time when the United States should be standing tall. There is no other leader in the world today. We shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/this-is-a-time-when-the-united-states-should-be-standing-tall-there/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Seven years into writing a novel, I started to lose my mind. My thirty-seventh birthday had just come and gone, the end of 2008…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/seven-years-into-writing-a-novel-i-started-to-lose-my-mind-my-thirty/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [When I'm at my best, I'm trying to destabilize myself and figure out new ways of approaching art as a provocation. I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/when-i-m-at-my-best-i-m-trying-to-destabilize-myself-and-figure-out/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [“it’s really just taking action—whether that’s approaching someone you’re intimidated by or deciding to finally crack a book on a subject you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-really-just-taking-action-whether-that-s-approaching-someone-you/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Approaching a police car is a very dangerous activity to engage in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/approaching-a-police-car-is-a-very-dangerous-activity-to-engage-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I'm approaching 70. Unfortunately, from the wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-m-approaching-70-unfortunately-from-the-wrong-direction/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/to-me-unconventional-thinking-is-approaching-a-problem-and-asking-why/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [It took me way beyond what I knew, into places of which I was totally scared, but as I became less frightened, I welcomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/it-took-me-way-beyond-what-i-knew-into-places-of-which-i-was-totally/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [We need to go to the niceties of approaching the U. N. and let them have a chance to take it over, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-odom/we-need-to-go-to-the-niceties-of-approaching-the-u-n-and-let-them/) [William Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-odom/) > [“You have to believe that people will be open to your advances. We psych ourselves out of approaching a potential BFF or emailing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bertsche/you-have-to-believe-that-people-will-be-open-to-your-advances-we/) [Rachel Bertsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bertsche/) > [Approaching people looking for something in return isn't a relationship, it's a transaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/approaching-people-looking-for-something-in-return-isn-t-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [You find yourself approaching middle age, playing another scuzzy rock club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/you-find-yourself-approaching-middle-age-playing-another-scuzzy-rock/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [In our ordinary experiences with other people, we know that approaching each other in a machinelike way gets us into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-our-ordinary-experiences-with-other-people-we-know-that/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [If people cannot get a hold of you, or have trouble approaching you, they will forget about you. Your general availability and accessibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-people-cannot-get-a-hold-of-you-or-have-trouble-approaching-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) Browse all 100 Approaching quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you see a man approaching with the obvious intent of doing you good, run for your life. 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