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Aristotle

97 quotes

Aristotle (384–322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath whose writings covered an enormous range of subjects including physics, biology, logic, ethics, and politics. A student of Plato, he went on to tutor Alexander the Great. His ideas on logic and scientific method laid the groundwork for much of Western intellectual tradition.

“Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.”

— Aristotle

Men

All Quotes by Aristotle

“For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first.”

— Aristotle

Love

“He who can be, and therefore is, another's, and he who participates in reason enough to apprehend, but not to have, is a slave by nature.”

— Aristotle

Nature

“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”

— Aristotle

Life

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”

— Aristotle

Happiness

“But if nothing but soul, or in soul mind, is qualified to count, it is impossible for there to be time unless there is soul, but only that of which time is an attribute, i.e. if change can exist without soul.”

— Aristotle

Change

“Politicians also have no leisure, because they are always aiming at something beyond political life itself, power and glory, or happiness.”

— Aristotle

Happiness

“Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.”

— Aristotle

Men

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

— Aristotle

Nature

“It is clearly better that property should be private, but the use of it common and the special business of the legislator is to create in men this benevolent disposition.”

— Aristotle

Business

“The generality of men are naturally apt to be swayed by fear rather than reverence, and to refrain from evil rather because of the punishment that it brings than because of its own foulness.”

— Aristotle

Fear

“Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are rather of the nature of universals, whereas those of history are singulars.”

— Aristotle

History

“Friendship is essentially a partnership.”

— Aristotle

Friendship

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

— Aristotle

Friendship

“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. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.”

— Aristotle

Religion

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

— Aristotle

Education

“The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.”

— Aristotle

Best

“Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference.”

— Aristotle

Beauty

“Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.”

— Aristotle

Truth

“Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.”

— Aristotle

Education

“Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at some good and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.”

— Aristotle

Art