Book 10 / Chapter 4
Paragraph 4 - The Impermanence and Dulling of Pleasure
Explanation - Part By Part
"How, then, is it that no one is continuously pleased? Is it that we grow weary? Certainly all human beings are incapable of continuous activity."
Aristotle is addressing a common observation: no one experiences uninterrupted pleasure. He attributes this to the simple fact that humans aren’t capable of sustained, continuous activity. Since pleasure arises from engaging in certain activities, the inability to maintain constant action naturally limits the continuity of pleasure. Essentially, our physical and mental limitations—our tendency to grow tired or lose focus—prevent us from being persistently engaged in the kind of activity that would sustain pleasure indefinitely.
"Therefore pleasure also is not continuous; for it accompanies activity."
Aristotle is pointing out that pleasure is not something we can experience continuously because it is inherently linked to activity. Pleasure arises as a byproduct or companion of engaging in some form of action, whether it be physical, mental, or sensory. Since human beings cannot sustain constant activity—our energy and focus naturally ebb and flow—our experience of pleasure similarly cannot be uninterrupted. In essence, pleasure depends on the active engagement with something, and since we cannot always remain active, neither can pleasure be constant.
"Some things delight us when they are new, but later do so less, for the same reason; for at first the mind is in a state of stimulation and intensely active about them, as people are with respect to their vision when they look hard at a thing, but afterwards our activity is not of this kind, but has grown relaxed; for which reason the pleasure also is dulled."
Aristotle is pointing out something many of us can relate to today: the phenomenon of novelty fading. When we encounter something new, it excites us, captures our full attention, and our minds engage with it intensely. This heightened activity—our focused interest and engagement—is pleasurable because of how fresh and captivating the experience feels. However, over time, this sense of novelty diminishes. Our mental engagement becomes less intense, more relaxed, and as a result, the level of pleasure we derive from the same thing also decreases. Simply put, the excitement of newness fades, and so does the joy it initially brought.