Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
AristotleRead
The purpose of the present study is not as it is in other inquiries, the attainment of knowledge, we are not conducting this inquiry in order to know what virtue is, but in order to become good, else there would be no advantage in studying it. For that reason, it becomes necessary to examine the problem of our actions and to ask how they are to be performed. For as we have said, the actions determine what kind of characteristics are developed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The aim of studying virtue is to become virtuous, not just to acquire knowledge about it.
This quote by Aristotle emphasizes that the ultimate goal of studying moral philosophy and virtue is not merely intellectual understanding but rather the practical application that leads to moral development. He argues that our actions shape our character, and therefore, understanding how to perform good actions is essential to becoming a better person.
Themes
VirtueActionCharacterMoralKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on ethics, one might use this quote to provoke discussion about the difference between knowing what is right and actually doing it.
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The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
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