Book 4 / Chapter 1
Paragraph 6 - The Nature of Prodigality and Its Implications
Explanation - Part By Part
"But most prodigal people, as has been said, also take from the wrong sources, and are in this respect mean. They become apt to take because they wish to spend and cannot do this easily; for their possessions soon run short."
Aristotle is pointing out that most prodigal people—those who are excessively generous or wasteful—don’t only suffer from giving recklessly; they also end up taking what they shouldn’t. This is because their urge to spend and give lavishly surpasses their resources, so they eventually run out of their own possessions. As a result, they are driven to acquire wealth from improper or dishonorable sources, which makes them, in a sense, as small-minded or selfish ("mean") as the opposite extreme they seemingly avoid. Their reckless spending leads them into morally questionable behavior to sustain their habit.
"Thus they are forced to provide means from some other source. At the same time, because they care nothing for honour, they take recklessly and from any source; for they have an appetite for giving, and they do not mind how or from what source."
Aristotle is pointing out that many prodigal people (those who excessively give or spend money) end up running out of resources because of their recklessness. When this happens, they don’t stop; instead, they resort to acquiring money from any means possible, even dishonorable or inappropriate sources. Why? Because their strong desire to give or spend overrides their concern for where the money comes from, or whether it is ethical to take it. Essentially, their carelessness about their own honor and integrity leads them to make poor moral choices in order to sustain their habit of giving or spending.
"Hence also their giving is not liberal; for it is not noble, nor does it aim at nobility, nor is it done in the right way; sometimes they make rich those who should be poor, and will give nothing to people of respectable character, and much to flatterers or those who provide them with some other pleasure."
This part discusses why the giving of prodigal people (those who spend extravagantly and recklessly) cannot be considered truly generous or "liberal" in a virtuous sense. Aristotle suggests that virtuous generosity involves not just giving for the sake of giving but doing so in a noble way—meaning that it should be thoughtful, purposeful, and aimed at helping the right people for the right reasons.
Prodigal people fail at this because their giving lacks discernment or integrity. Instead of helping those who genuinely deserve assistance or are virtuous themselves, they often squander their resources on people who flatter them or serve their desires, such as those who entertain or indulge them. This means their giving isn't rooted in virtue; it's self-centered or aimless, catering more to indulgence or shallow relationships than to anything admirable. Essentially, their generosity is misdirected and lacks the higher ethical purpose that defines true nobility.
"Hence also most of them are self-indulgent; for they spend lightly and waste money on their indulgences, and incline towards pleasures because they do not live with a view to what is noble."
This part explains that many prodigal (excessively wasteful or overly generous) people tend to be self-indulgent. They give in to their desires and pleasures without much restraint, and this behavior leads them to spend recklessly. Instead of directing their money or efforts toward noble or virtuous aims—things that might bring honor, benefit others in meaningful ways, or reflect good character—they focus on satisfying their own pleasures. In essence, their lack of discipline and purpose causes them to waste their resources in ways that neither benefit themselves in the long term nor contribute to anything truly valuable or admirable.