Book 1 / Chapter 10
Paragraph 5 - The Resilience of the Virtuous Man
Explanation - Part By Part
"If activities are, as we said, what gives life its character, no happy man can become miserable; for he will never do the acts that are hateful and mean."
Aristotle is emphasizing the idea that a truly happy person—a person who has cultivated virtue and goodness—cannot truly fall into misery. This is because their happiness is rooted in their character and the way they live their life, not in external circumstances. A virtuous person, by their nature, avoids doing things that are morally wrong or degrading ("hateful and mean"). Their consistent practice of good actions keeps their life aligned with nobility and purpose, which shields them from complete misery, even in difficult times.
"For the man who is truly good and wise, we think, bears all the chances life becomingly and always makes the best of circumstances, as a good general makes the best military use of the army at his command and a good shoemaker makes the best shoes out of the hides that are given him; and so with all other craftsmen."
Aristotle is saying that a truly good and wise person approaches life much like an expert in a specific craft or skill approaches their work. Just as a skilled general uses the resources available to him strategically to make the best of a situation in battle, or a talented shoemaker creates high-quality shoes even if the leather available isn't perfect, a wise and virtuous person knows how to navigate and respond to whatever life throws at them. The key idea here is adaptability and excellence in handling circumstances, no matter how challenging or imperfect they may be. This ability to make the best out of what one has is a hallmark of wisdom and goodness.
"And if this is the case, the happy man can never become miserable; though he will not reach blessedness, if he meet with fortunes like those of Priam."
Aristotle is saying that a truly happy person—someone virtuous and wise—won't ever fall into utter misery, even if life throws difficult challenges at them. This is because their happiness comes from their character and actions, not just from external circumstances. However, if they experience severe misfortunes, like the tragic downfall of Priam (the king of Troy in Greek mythology who lost everything during the Trojan War), their happiness might be diminished, and they won't achieve the highest form of "blessedness" or complete fulfillment. In other words, external events can limit how far someone's happiness can go, but they don't outright destroy it if that person has inner strength and good character.