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.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of consistent effort and discipline in achieving excellence. It suggests that excellence is not innate, but rather something that is developed through practice and repetition. Acting rightly and virtuously is not solely dependent on having innate qualities, but rather it is the result of continuously making the right choices and developing good habits. Therefore, excellence is not a one-time occurrence or an isolated act, but an ongoing behavior and mindset that is cultivated through consistent action and practice.