Aristotle Quotes

A collection of quotes by Aristotle.

Aristotle (384 - 322 BCE) was a Greek philosopher and polymath who made significant contributions to nearly every field of knowledge in his time. He was born in Stagira, a small town in northern Greece, and at the age of seventeen, he joined the Academy of Plato in Athens. Aristotle became a prominent student of Plato and remained at the Academy for nearly twenty years, eventually becoming a teacher himself.

After Plato's death, he left Athens and tutored Alexander the Great, who would later become one of history's most prominent military leaders. Aristotle returned to Athens in 335 BCE and established his own school, known as the Lyceum, where he lectured and conducted research for the next twelve years. His lectures covered a wide range of subjects including philosophy, biology, physics, logic, rhetoric, and politics.

Aristotle's influence on Western thought is immense. His work on logic and reasoning laid the foundation for formal logic, and his philosophical ideas shaped the development of metaphysics, ethics, and political theory. He classified and studied the natural world, making significant contributions to biology and zoology. His writings on rhetoric continue to be studied as the art of effective communication.

Although many of Aristotle's works have been lost, his surviving writings, including his treatises on ethics (Nicomachean Ethics) and politics (Politics), have been tremendously influential and continue to be studied and debated by scholars and philosophers to this day. Aristotle's inquisitive spirit and analytical mind have left an indelible mark on the fields of science, philosophy, and logic, making him one of the most important figures in Western intellectual history.

The wise man does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life--knowing that under certain conditions it is not worth while to live. He is of a disposition to do men service, though he is ashamed to have a service done to him. To confer a kindness is a mark of superiority; to receive one is a mark of subordination... He does not take part in public displays... He is open in his dislikes and preferences; he talks and acts frankly, because of his contempt for men and things... He is never fired with admiration, since there is nothing great in his eyes. He cannot live in complaisance with others, except it be a friend; complaisance is the characteristic of a slave... He never feels malice, and always forgets and passes over injuries... He is not fond of talking... It is no concern of his that he should be praised, or that others should be blamed. He does not speak evil of others, even of his enemies, unless it be to themselves. His carriage is sedate, his voice deep, his speech measured; he is not given to hurry, for he is concerned about only a few things; he is not prone to vehemence, for he thinks nothing very important. A shrill voice and hasty steps come to a man through care... He bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of his circumstances, like a skillful general who marshals his limited forces with the strategy of war... 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