Admirable Quote by Mortimer Adler
“Men value things in three ways: as useful, as pleasant or sources of pleasure, and as excellent, or as intrinsically admirable or honorable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: How to Think About Virtue, 1970s
People assess value by usefulness, pleasure, or intrinsic excellence.
In simple terms: Value has three dimensions.
Key Takeaway
Balance usefulness, pleasure, and virtue.
Themes
ethics
valuation
human nature
Mood
reflective
instructive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- product design
- personal goals
- education curricula
Key Concepts
virtue ethics
philosophical classification
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we prioritize these aspects?
- Can something be both useful and virtuous?
A Different Perspective
May reduce complex values to simple categories.
![“I didn't get a chance to meet Glen [Beck] for this movie. I did meet him a few years ago, coincidentally, before any of this happened. But I've been familiar with his work, so I felt I wanted to get it right. I wanted to honor him. I respect him and I think the way he does his job is admirable…” quote by Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bee/zachary-quinto-4021_admirable_i-didn-t-get-a-chance-to-meet-glen-beck_138334.jpg)
