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100 Enlightening Quotes By Aristotle That Will Help You Understand Life Better

Famous As: One of the Greatest Philosophers and the First Genuine Scientist in History
Born On: 384 AD
Died On: 322 AD
Born In: Stagira, Greece
Died At Age: -62

The Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle was a prolific writer and polymath who made tremendous contributions to a wide number of fields including mathematics, physics, biology, botany, medicine, logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, agriculture, dance and theatre. A major figure in ancient Greek philosophy, he was a student of Plato’s and even more empirically-minded than his teacher. Regarded as one of the greatest intellectual figures of Western history, Aristotle founded the first comprehensive system of Western philosophy and his teachings greatly influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophical and theological thought during the Middle Ages and continue to interest scholars to the present day. Over his lifetime, the great philosopher is credited to have written as many as 200 treatises, of which only 31 survive. From what remains of his original words, we have compiled a collection of quotations by Aristotle that make a small portion of his wisdom accessible to the readers in the contemporary world.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

Aristotle
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

Aristotle
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.

What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.

Aristotle
Hope is a waking dream.

Hope is a waking dream.

Aristotle
Happiness depends upon ourselves.

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

Aristotle
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.

Aristotle
No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.

No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.

Aristotle
Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.

Aristotle
Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.

Aristotle
To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.

To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.

Aristotle
A friend to all is a friend to none.

A friend to all is a friend to none.

Aristotle
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Aristotle
Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.

Aristotle
To perceive is to suffer.

To perceive is to suffer.

Aristotle
He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.

He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.

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

The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living differ from the dead.

Aristotle
Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.

Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.

Aristotle
Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.

Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.

Aristotle
I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self.

Aristotle
The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.

Aristotle
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

Aristotle
Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.

Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.

Aristotle
It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.

It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.

Aristotle
The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.

The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.

Aristotle
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

Aristotle
Learning is not child's play; we cannot learn without pain.

Learning is not child's play; we cannot learn without pain.

Aristotle
I have gained this by philosophy … I do without being ordered what some are constrained to do by their fear of the law.

I have gained this by philosophy … I do without being ordered what some are constrained to do by their fear of the law.

Aristotle
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.

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.

Aristotle
To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man.

To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man.

Aristotle
All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.

All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.

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

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Aristotle
For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.

For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.

Aristotle
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

Aristotle
The energy of the mind is the essence of life.

The energy of the mind is the essence of life.

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

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

Aristotle
Wit is educated insolence.

Wit is educated insolence.

Aristotle
Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods.

Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods.

Aristotle
He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.

He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.

Aristotle
I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.

Aristotle
Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.

Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in the consciousness that we deserve them.

Aristotle
All men by nature desire knowledge.

All men by nature desire knowledge.

Aristotle
The more you know, the more you know you don't know.

The more you know, the more you know you don't know.

Aristotle
All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.

All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.

Aristotle
Happiness is a state of activity.

Happiness is a state of activity.

Aristotle
Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something

Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something

Aristotle
Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.

Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.

Aristotle
Learning is an ornament in prosperity, a refuge in adversity, and a provision in old age.

Learning is an ornament in prosperity, a refuge in adversity, and a provision in old age.

Aristotle
All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.

All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.

Aristotle
Nature does nothing uselessly.

Nature does nothing uselessly.

Aristotle
A friend is a second self.

A friend is a second self.

Aristotle
We make war that we may live in peace.

We make war that we may live in peace.

Aristotle
Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion.

Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion.

Aristotle
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

Aristotle
The Law is Reason free from Passion.

The Law is Reason free from Passion.

Aristotle
Great men are always of a nature originally melancholy.

Great men are always of a nature originally melancholy.

Aristotle
He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled

He who is to be a good ruler must have first been ruled

Aristotle
Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.

Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.

Aristotle
The secret to humor is surprise.

The secret to humor is surprise.

Aristotle
The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.

The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.

Aristotle
Where your talents and the needs of the world cross; there lies your vocation.

Where your talents and the needs of the world cross; there lies your vocation.

Aristotle
Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are therir own

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are therir own

Aristotle
Comedy aims at representing men as worse, Tragedy as better than in actual life.

Comedy aims at representing men as worse, Tragedy as better than in actual life.

Aristotle
Philosophy can make people sick.

Philosophy can make people sick.

Aristotle
The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.

The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.

Aristotle
Through discipline comes freedom.

Through discipline comes freedom.

Aristotle
He is his own best friend and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.

He is his own best friend and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.

Aristotle
The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

Aristotle
Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.

Aristotle
To lead an orchestra, you must turn your back on the crowd

To lead an orchestra, you must turn your back on the crowd

Aristotle
The soul never thinks without a mental picture.

The soul never thinks without a mental picture.

Aristotle
Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.

Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.

Aristotle
All Earthquakes and Disasters are warnings; there’s too much corruption in the world

All Earthquakes and Disasters are warnings; there’s too much corruption in the world

Aristotle
Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular.

Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular.

Aristotle
We must be neither cowardly nor rash but courageous.

We must be neither cowardly nor rash but courageous.

Aristotle
Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.

Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.

Aristotle
We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit

We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit

Aristotle
Memory is the scribe of the soul

Memory is the scribe of the soul

Aristotle
Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form, but with regard to their mode of life.

Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form, but with regard to their mode of life.

Aristotle
The gods too are fond of a joke.

The gods too are fond of a joke.

Aristotle
PLOT is CHARACTER revealed by ACTION.

PLOT is CHARACTER revealed by ACTION.

Aristotle
If things do not turn out as we wish, we should wish for them as they turn out.

If things do not turn out as we wish, we should wish for them as they turn out.

Aristotle
Anger Is A Gift

Anger Is A Gift

Aristotle
Happiness belongs to the self sufficient.

Happiness belongs to the self sufficient.

Aristotle
Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.

Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.

Aristotle
It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.

It is of the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.

Aristotle
Whatever lies within our power to do lies also within our power not to do.

Whatever lies within our power to do lies also within our power not to do.

Aristotle
Democracy arose from men's thinking that if they are equal in any respect, they are equal absolutely.

Democracy arose from men's thinking that if they are equal in any respect, they are equal absolutely.

Aristotle
Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.

Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.

Aristotle
All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.

All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.

Aristotle
It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it

It is the mark of an educated man to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it

Aristotle
The best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.

The best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake.

Aristotle
Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

Aristotle
These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions ... The good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life.

These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions ... The good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life.

Aristotle
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

Aristotle
The weak are always anxious for justice and equality. The strong pay no heed to either.

The weak are always anxious for justice and equality. The strong pay no heed to either.

Aristotle
With respect to the requirement of art, the probable impossible is always preferable to the improbable possible.

With respect to the requirement of art, the probable impossible is always preferable to the improbable possible.

Aristotle
We become brave by doing brave acts.

We become brave by doing brave acts.

Aristotle
We are what we repeatively do. Success is not an action but a habit.

We are what we repeatively do. Success is not an action but a habit.

Aristotle
If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development

If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development

Aristotle
Man is by nature a political animal.

Man is by nature a political animal.

Aristotle