For when people do not keep watch over the commons, it is destroyed. It results, then, that they fall into civil faction, compelling one another by force and not wishing to do what is just themselves.
the Nicomachean Ethicsby aristotle
For he who lives as passion directs will not hear argument that dissuades him, nor understand it if he does; and how can we persuade one in such a state to change his ways?
To feel these feelings at the right time, on the right occasion, towards the right people, for the right purpose and in the right manner, is to feel the best amount of them, which is the mean amount – and the best amount is of course the mark of virtue.
Hence while in respect of its substance and the definition that states what it really is in essence virtue is the observance of the mean, in point of excellence and rightness it is an extreme.
Not every action or emotion however admits of the observance of a due mean.
Happiness then is the best, noblest, and most pleasant thing in the world, and these attributes are not severed as in the inscription at Delos – Most noble is that which is justest, and best is health; But pleasantest is it to win what we love.
Virtue is a greater good than honour; and one might perhaps accordingly suppose that virtue rather than honour is the end of the political life.
In speaking about someone’s character, we do not say that he is wise or comprehending, but that he is gentle or moderate.
It is the mark of an educated man to look for precision in each class of things just so far as the nature of the subject admits; it is evidently equally foolish to accept probable reasoning from a mathematician and to demand from a rhetorician demonstrative proofs.
Verbally there is very general agreement; for both the general run of men and people of superior refinement say that it is happiness, and identify living well and doing well with being happy; but with regard to what happiness is they differ, and the many do not give the same account as the wise.