Book 2 / Chapter 1
Paragraph 4 - The Formation of Virtue and Art Through Habit
Explanation - Part By Part
"Again, it is from the same causes and by the same means that every virtue is both produced and destroyed, and similarly every art; for it is from playing the lyre that both good and bad lyre-players are produced."
Aristotle is pointing out that virtues—and skills, like playing a musical instrument—are learned and developed in the same way. The same process that can make someone good at something (like playing the lyre well) can also lead to someone being bad at it (like playing poorly). In both cases, the results depend on how the person practices or engages in the activity. The idea is that practice, habits, and repeated actions shape outcomes, whether they are positive (virtue or skill) or negative.
"And the corresponding statement is true of builders and of all the rest; men will be good or bad builders as a result of building well or badly."
Aristotle is saying that just like in any skill or craft, people become either skilled or unskilled based on how they practice. For example, a builder doesn't become good or bad at building houses randomly—it's determined by whether they consistently build well or poorly. Their skill develops or deteriorates based on their actions and efforts. Practice shapes their ability.
"For if this were not so, there would have been no need of a teacher, but all men would have been born good or bad at their craft."
Aristotle is saying that if skill or virtue were something people were simply born with—naturally good or naturally bad—then the role of teachers or training would be unnecessary. In other words, people wouldn’t need to learn or practice anything; their abilities or moral character would already be predetermined. But since that's not the case, teaching, practice, and experience are essential for developing both skills and good character. This emphasizes the importance of learning and effort in shaping who we become, rather than relying on innate abilities or qualities.
"This, then, is the case with the virtues also; by doing the acts that we do in our transactions with other men we become just or unjust."
Aristotle is saying that virtues, like justice, are developed through practice and repeated actions in our interactions with others. If you consistently act fairly and justly in your dealings with people, you'll cultivate the virtue of being a just person. On the other hand, if your actions are dishonest or unfair, you'll develop the opposite—an unjust character. In short, our habits and actions shape who we become.
"And by doing the acts that we do in the presence of danger, and being habituated to feel fear or confidence, we become brave or cowardly."
Aristotle is saying that how we respond to dangerous situations shapes the kind of person we become. If you repeatedly act with courage and build the habit of managing your fear when facing danger, you will develop the virtue of bravery. On the other hand, if you often act with excessive fear or recklessness, you will shape yourself into a coward or someone overly impulsive. In essence, your repeated behavior when encountering fear or confidence-forming moments determines whether you become courageous or not. It’s about the habits we practice over time.
"The same is true of appetites and feelings of anger; some men become temperate and good-tempered, others self-indulgent and irascible, by behaving in one way or the other in the appropriate circumstances."
Aristotle is saying that our desires (like cravings for food or pleasure) and emotional reactions (like anger) are shaped by how we respond to situations over time. If we consistently manage these desires and emotions in a balanced and reasonable way, we become more self-controlled (temperate) and even-tempered (good-tempered). On the other hand, if we regularly indulge every craving or lash out in anger without restraint, we develop habits of being self-indulgent or quick-tempered (irascible). Essentially, how we handle these moments repeatedly determines the kind of person we become.
"Thus, in one word, states of character arise out of like activities."
Aristotle is saying that the kind of person we become—our character—is shaped by the kinds of actions we repeatedly do. In other words, our habits and behaviors directly mold who we are deep inside. If we practice certain types of actions consistently, those actions will shape our character to match them. If we repeatedly act justly, for example, we become just people. If we consistently act selfishly or avoid responsibility, we develop a selfish or cowardly character.
"This is why the activities we exhibit must be of a certain kind; it is because the states of character correspond to the differences between these."
Aristotle is emphasizing that the actions we repeatedly perform directly shape the kind of person we become. Our character—the traits and qualities that define how we behave—is built through these actions. If we want to develop a virtuous character (e.g., being brave, just, or temperate), the activities we engage in must reflect those virtues. Simply put, our habits and practices directly mold our moral and ethical nature. The type of activities we choose matters deeply because they forge the foundation of our character.
"It makes no small difference, then, whether we form habits of one kind or of another from our very youth; it makes a very great difference, or rather all the difference."
Aristotle is emphasizing here how critical our early habits and upbringing are in shaping who we become as individuals. The character traits we develop—whether virtues like courage and justice or vices like cowardice or dishonesty—stem fundamentally from the ways we repeatedly act or behave, especially in our formative years. These habits aren't minor or random; they define us to such an extent that they make "all the difference" in the type of person we grow up to be. In essence, what you practice regularly—good or bad—gets hardwired into your character over time. This underscores the immense importance of fostering good habits, particularly in youth, as they lay the foundation for one’s moral and ethical life.