Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
AristotleRead
... the friendship of worthless people has a bad effect (because they take part, unstable as they are, in worthless pursuits, and actually become bad through each other's influence). But the friendship of the good is good, and increases in goodness because of their association. They seem even to become better men by exercising their friendship and improving each other; for the traits that they admire in each other get transferred to themselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Friendship can significantly influence our character, shaping us towards better or worse paths depending on the company we keep.
This quote by Aristotle emphasizes the profound impact that friendships can have on our moral character. It suggests that associating with virtuous individuals can lead to personal growth and improvement, as the admirable traits in friends can inspire and transfer to ourselves. Conversely, friendships with those lacking virtue can lead to negative influences and deterioration of character. Thus, the quality of our friendships is crucial in determining our own ethical and moral development.
Themes
FriendshipInfluenceVirtueCharacterGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about personal development, one might quote Aristotle to emphasize the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences.
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The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
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Unless you make allowances for your friends foibles, you betray your own.
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