Enjoy the best Aristotle Quotes. Quotations by Aristotle (Philosopher, Polymath) Born: -
The best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.
In a democracy, the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme.
To be conscious that we are perceiving or thinking is to be conscious of our own existence.
Friendship is essentially a partnership.
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
It is easy to fly into a passion; anyone can do that. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way, this is not easy.
Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.
One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly, one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy.
All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, desire.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Aristotle (384 BCE - 322 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher, scientist, and polymath who made significant contributions to a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, biology, physics, logic, ethics, politics, and more. He is considered one of the greatest thinkers in Western history and played a crucial role in shaping the foundations of Western philosophy.
Born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece, Aristotle was the son of Nicomachus, the court physician to the Macedonian royal family. At the age of seventeen, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens, where he studied under the renowned philosopher for nearly two decades. Although influenced by Plato, Aristotle developed his own philosophical ideas that often diverged from his mentor's teachings.
Aristotle's approach to knowledge was deeply empirical and grounded in observation and analysis of the natural world. He believed that the ultimate goal of philosophy was to understand the principles underlying all things, and he applied his systematic and analytical approach to various subjects. Aristotle's works covered an extensive range of topics, including metaphysics, logic, biology, ethics, politics, and aesthetics.
In his metaphysical treatise "Physics," Aristotle proposed a theory of causality and motion that laid the groundwork for Western physics for centuries. He classified objects and their characteristics in his work "Categories" and developed a system of deductive reasoning known as syllogistic logic in his treatise "Prior Analytics." Aristotle's logical framework heavily influenced the development of Western philosophical and scientific thought.
Aristotle's interest in biology led him to study and document a wide array of living organisms. His works on zoology, such as "History of Animals," provided detailed observations and classifications of various species, and he also delved into topics like embryology, anatomy, and behavior.
Ethics and morality were crucial concerns for Aristotle, who believed that the ultimate purpose of human life was to achieve eudaimonia, often translated as "flourishing" or "well-being." In his influential work "Nicomachean Ethics," he emphasized the importance of virtue and practical wisdom in living a fulfilling life. He also explored the concepts of justice, friendship, and the role of politics in promoting human flourishing in his work "Politics."
Aristotle's impact on Western thought cannot be overstated. His ideas and methods were foundational for numerous fields, and his works remained influential throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Even though many of his specific scientific and philosophical views have been superseded or revised over the centuries, his emphasis on observation, logic, and the pursuit of knowledge continues to inspire scholars to this day. Aristotle's lasting legacy lies in his commitment to understanding the world through rational inquiry and his remarkable ability to synthesize knowledge across diverse disciplines.