--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is absurd to hold that a man ought to…" description: "\"It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs, but not of being unable to defend himself with sp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/aristotle-78_absurd_it-is-absurd-to-hold-that-a-man-ought-to_2386282.png" --- # It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of… ![“It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs, but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/aristotle-78_absurd_it-is-absurd-to-hold-that-a-man-ought-to_2386282.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/aristotle-78_absurd_it-is-absurd-to-hold-that-a-man-ought-to_2386282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/aristotle-78_absurd_it-is-absurd-to-hold-that-a-man-ought-to_2386282.png) > “It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs, but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs.” [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. Physical strength is less defining of humanity than the capacity for rational speech and reasoning. **In simple terms:** Reason outweighs physical ability in defining humanity. Key Takeaway Cultivate reason and dialogue. Themes reason human nature ethics Mood thoughtful instructive Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - education - debate - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts rational discourse moral development intellectual virtue Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance physical and verbal skills? - When is physical action more appropriate than speech? A Different Perspective Physical prowess still matters in many practical contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [It is absurd to hold that a man should be ashamed of an inability to defend himself with his limbs, but not ashamed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-absurd-to-hold-that-a-man-should-be-ashamed-of-an-inability-to/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Again, it is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/again-it-is-absurd-to-hold-that-a-man-ought-to-be-ashamed-of-being/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If someone offends you by speech, you must learn to defend yourself by speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/if-someone-offends-you-by-speech-you-must-learn-to-defend-yourself-by/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [There are two distinctive peculiarities by reference to which we characterize the soul (1) local movement and (2) thinking, discriminating, and perceiving. Thinking both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/there-are-two-distinctive-peculiarities-by-reference-to-which-we/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Media outlets that are exploiting Ebola because they want a sensational story and politicians using it to their own ends ought to be ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/media-outlets-that-are-exploiting-ebola-because-they-want-a/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [The Cold War in Africa is one of the darkest, most disgraceful pages in contemporary history, and everybody ought to be ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-cold-war-in-africa-is-one-of-the-darkest-most-disgraceful-pages/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [One ought to be ashamed to make use of the wonders of science embodied in a radio set, the while appreciating them as little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/one-ought-to-be-ashamed-to-make-use-of-the-wonders-of-science/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Hillary Clinton ought to be ashamed of herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-ought-to-be-ashamed-of-herself/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You ought to be ashamed of yourself, running around, not married, staying out all night. 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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. 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