Book 1 / Chapter 10
Paragraph 4 - The Influence of Fortune on Happiness and Nobility
Explanation - Part By Part
"Now many events happen by chance, and events differing in importance; small pieces of good fortune or of its opposite clearly do not weigh down the scales of life one way or the other,"
Aristotle is highlighting that life is full of events that happen by chance, and these events can have varying levels of significance. Minor strokes of good luck or bad luck don't have a significant impact on the overall quality or "balance" of a person's life. In other words, small, everyday good or bad incidents won't drastically change whether someone's life is flourishing or not. They don’t carry enough weight to tip the "scales" of happiness or virtue in a meaningful way.
"but a multitude of great events if they turn out well will make life happier (for not only are they themselves such as to add beauty to life, but the way a man deals with them may be noble and good),"
Aristotle is saying that significant events in life, if they go well, can contribute to a person's happiness—not just because these events themselves are positive or enjoyable, but because how a person handles them can reveal their character. If someone faces these events with virtue—acting nobly and doing the right thing—it adds a deeper, more admirable quality to their life. It's not just about good things happening, but about responding to them in a way that displays moral excellence and personal integrity.
"while if they turn out ill they crush and maim happiness; for they both bring pain with them and hinder many activities."
Aristotle is saying here that when major misfortunes occur in life, they have the power to "crush" or severely damage happiness. These hardships bring pain and suffering, and they also interfere with a person's ability to carry out meaningful actions or pursue important goals. In other words, significant struggles can disrupt the very things that contribute to a fulfilling and virtuous life, making happiness much harder to sustain.
"Yet even in these nobility shines through, when a man bears with resignation many great misfortunes, not through insensibility to pain but through nobility and greatness of soul."
Aristotle is pointing out that true inner character and virtue shine most brightly in moments of great adversity. When someone faces significant misfortunes in life—difficult experiences that could crush most people’s sense of happiness—they show their true strength, not by pretending they don’t feel the pain or ignoring it, but by enduring it with dignity, resilience, and a kind of moral greatness. For Aristotle, this ability to confront hardship without losing one’s moral integrity or giving in to despair reflects a "greatness of soul"—an elevated and admirable human quality. In other words, the way people handle tough times reveals their nobility and virtuous character.