Book 4 / Chapter 1
Paragraph 8 - Deficiency in Giving and Excess in Taking
Explanation - Part By Part
"For it consists in two things, deficiency in giving and excess in taking, and is not found complete in all men but is sometimes divided; some men go to excess in taking, others fall short in giving."
In this part, Aristotle is discussing the concept of meanness (or stinginess) as a vice related to money and generosity. He identifies it as having two main aspects:
1. A lack of willingness to give (deficiency in giving).
2. A strong tendency to take excessively (excess in taking).
However, Aristotle notes that not everyone exhibits both aspects at once. Some people might only show one of these traits—for instance, they might be very reluctant to give to others, but not necessarily greedy about taking, or vice versa. Essentially, these two tendencies capture different ways in which people can deviate from a healthy, balanced approach to generosity.
"Those who are called by such names as 'miserly', 'close', 'stingy', all fall short in giving, but do not covet the possessions of others nor wish to get them."
Aristotle is describing a specific group of people who lack generosity—they are "miserly," "close," or "stingy." These individuals don’t give much or share freely with others, but importantly, they don’t have a desire to take what belongs to others or pursue wealth dishonestly. Their primary flaw lies in their reluctance to part with their own resources, not in an excessive greed for acquiring more wealth or possessions from others. This distinctions matters because their behavior stems from holding on too tightly, not from overreaching or exploiting others.
"In some this is due to a sort of honesty and avoidance of what is disgraceful (for some seem, or at least profess, to hoard their money for this reason, that they may not some day be forced to do something disgraceful; to this class belong the cheeseparer and every one of the sort; he is so called from his excess of unwillingness to give anything)"
Aristotle is explaining here that some people who are considered miserly or overly frugal justify their behavior as a kind of moral stance. These individuals claim—or at least appear to believe—that they hoard their money to avoid being put in a situation where they might be forced to act in an unethical or shameful way in the future, like borrowing or begging. For example, someone might withhold generosity because they believe extreme saving will prevent them from ever falling into financial hardship, which could force them to compromise their integrity. Aristotle refers to this type of person as the "cheeseparer"—a metaphorical term to describe someone who is so excessively stingy that they cling to every little thing (like metaphorically scraping off the last bit of cheese). It reflects their extreme reluctance to part with their resources, even for good or honorable reasons.
"while others again keep their hands off the property of others from fear, on the ground that it is not easy, if one takes the property of others oneself, to avoid having one's own taken by them; they are therefore content neither to take nor to give."
Aristotle is describing a type of person who refrains from both giving to others and taking from them, but their motivation comes from fear. These individuals avoid taking what belongs to others because they worry that doing so could lead to retaliation—if they take from others, others might feel entitled to take from them in return. As a result, they adopt a defensive, self-preservational approach: they neither give generously nor take aggressively. They essentially stay on the sidelines of any exchange, motivated primarily by a desire to protect their own assets and avoid conflict.