Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us; rather we are adapted by nature to receive them, and are made perfect by habit.

οὔτ᾽ ἄρα φύσει οὔτε παρὰ φύσιν ἐγγίνονται αἱ ἀρεταί, ἀλλὰ πεφυκόσι μὲν ἡμῖν δέξασθαι αὐτάς, τελειουμένοις δὲ διὰ τοῦ ἔθους.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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More information about this quote

Topic

Habits Virtue Self-improvement Personal growth Human nature

Author

Aristotle

Source

The Nicomachean Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics]. c. 322 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing, 2019, bk. 2.

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A quote by Aristotle about habits: “Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us;…”
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A quote by Aristotle about habits: “Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us;…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Aristotle

The character which results from wealth is that of a prosperous fool.

Aristotle

Rhetoric

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More information about this quote
Topic
Corrosive effects of wealth Downsides of wealth Wealth Character Fools

Author

Aristotle
Source
Rhetoric
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. Rhetoric. 322 BC, bk. 2, pt. 16, sect. 3.

Current Citation

Aristotle. The Art of Rhetoric, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 2, pt. 16, sect. 3.

Another quote about Human nature

What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable; in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals-And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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More information about this quote
Topic
Man Human nature The human condition
Speaker
Hamlet

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Hamlet
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Language
English
Time
1616 1610s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus

Matthew 16:24

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More information about this quote
Topic
Following Jesus
Speaker
Jesus
Source
Gospel of Matthew The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Language
Greek
Time
60 60s 1st century
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Matthew 16:24).

Another quote originally in Greek

Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.

Socrates

Quoted in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius

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More information about this quote
Topic
Attachment (Buddhism) Simple living Materialism Possessions
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Diogenes Laërtius
Source
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Genre
Historical literature
Language
Greek
Time
400 400s 3rd century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 2, ch. 27.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 2, ch. 27.