Aristotle

Aristotle (384 BCE - March 7, 322 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He wrote on diverse subjects, including physics, poetry, biology and zoology, logic, rhetoric, politics and government, and ethics. Along with Socrates and Plato, Aristotle was one of the most influential of ancient Greek philosophers. They transformed Presocratic Greek philosophy into the foundations of Western philosophy as we know it. Some consider Plato and Aristotle to have founded two of the most important schools of Ancient philosophy; others consider Aristotelianism as a development and concretization of Plato's insights.

137 Quotes (Page 2 of 2)

We must no more ask whether the soul and body are one than ask whether the wax and the figure impressed on it are one.
— Aristotle

Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of mind.
— Aristotle

The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching.
— Aristotle

Great men are always of a nature originally melancholy.
— Aristotle

The true end of tragedy is to purify the passions.
— Aristotle

The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousandfold.
— Aristotle

Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth.
— Aristotle

All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.
— Aristotle

Of all the varieties of virtues, liberalism is the most beloved.
— Aristotle

The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.
— Aristotle

Wit is educated insolence.
— Aristotle

Melancholy men are of all others the most witty.
— Aristotle

It was through the feeling of wonder that men now and at first began to philosophize.
— Aristotle

To write well, express yourself like common people, but think like a wise man. Or, think as wise men do, but speak as the common people do.
— Aristotle

The young are permanently in a state resembling intoxication.
— Aristotle

They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.
— Aristotle

One thing alone not even God can do,To make undone whatever hath been done.
— Aristotle

[The argument of Alcidamas:] Everyone honours the wise. Thus the Parians have honoured Archilochus, in spite of his bitter tongue; the Chians Homer, though he was not their countryman; the Mytilenaeans Sappho, though she was a woman; the Lacedaemonians actually made Chilon a member of their senate, though they are the least literary of men; the inhabitants of Lampsacus gave public burial to Anaxagoras, though he was an alien, and honour him even to this day.
— Aristotle

When several villages are united in a single complete community, large enough to be nearly or quite self-sufficing, the state comes into existence, originating in the bare needs of life, and continuing in existence for the sake of a good life.
— Aristotle

[The educated differ from the uneducated] as much as the living from the dead.
— Aristotle

The Good of man is the active exercise of his souls faculties in conformity with excellence or virtue, or if there be several human excellences or virtues, in conformity with the best and most perfect among them.
— Aristotle

LOVE IS... ONE SOUL IN TWO BODIES
— Aristotle

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
— Aristotle

I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.
— Aristotle

What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do.
— Aristotle

Ifyouaspiretoacquirethedesireyouadmireandyoufirbutitsbackfiredon'tretirebutrefiretoacquirethedesireyouadmire.
— Aristotle

Cruel is the strife of brothers.
— Aristotle

Happiness [is] prosperity combined with virtue.
— Aristotle

In answer to the query, â€œWhat is a friend?â€: A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
— Aristotle

A friend is a second self.
— Aristotle

Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.
— Aristotle

It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen.
— Aristotle

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious.
— Aristotle

If liberty and equality, as is thought by some are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.
— Aristotle