Book 4 / Chapter 3
Paragraph 4 - The Role of Wealth and Status in Pride and Virtue
Explanation - Part By Part
"The goods of fortune also are thought to contribute towards pride. For men who are well-born are thought worthy of honour, and so are those who enjoy power or wealth; for they are in a superior position, and everything that has a superiority in something good is held in greater honour."
Aristotle is explaining that things like being born into a noble family (well-born), having power, or possessing wealth are often seen as reasons to honor someone. People respect these traits because they represent forms of superiority—being "better off" in society's eyes. Basically, in any characteristic that society views as positive or valuable, those who excel in it are typically held in higher regard. These "goods of fortune" can boost someone’s social standing and contribute to their sense of pride.
"Hence even such things make men prouder; for they are honoured by some for having them; but in truth the good man alone is to be honoured; he, however, who has both advantages is thought the more worthy of honour."
Aristotle is explaining that things like wealth, power, and noble lineage can make people feel more prideful because others often honor them for possessing these external advantages. However, he emphasizes that true honor really belongs to the virtuous person—the one who possesses moral excellence and goodness. If someone is both virtuous and also has these external qualities (like wealth or power), they may be seen as especially deserving of honor, since they combine inner goodness with external success. But again, the core idea is that virtue is what truly justifies someone being honored—not external status alone.
"But those who without virtue have such goods are neither justified in making great claims nor entitled to the name of 'proud'; for these things imply perfect virtue."
Aristotle is emphasizing that having material wealth, power, or high social status (the goods of fortune) does not, on its own, make someone deserving of recognition or admiration. Without virtue—meaning good character and moral excellence—these external advantages are not enough to justify someone making "great claims" about their worth or dignity, nor do they qualify that person to be called "proud" in the noble sense of the word. True pride, as Aristotle defines it, is a reflection of perfect virtue combined with external qualities like wealth or status, not just the result of fortune alone.
"Disdainful and insolent, however, even those who have such goods become. For without virtue it is not easy to bear gracefully the goods of fortune; and, being unable to bear them, and thinking themselves superior to others, they despise others and themselves do what they please."
This part highlights a key distinction between a truly virtuous person and someone who merely possesses external advantages like wealth, status, or power. Aristotle is pointing out that people who have these "goods of fortune" (like material wealth or high social standing) but lack virtue often become arrogant and disrespectful (disdainful and insolent). They don't know how to handle their good fortune with grace, humility, or proper perspective.
Because they lack the grounding that comes from genuine moral character, they let these external advantages go to their head. They think of themselves as superior to others and act accordingly, looking down on others while feeling entitled to do whatever they want. Essentially, they become self-centered and detached from the principles of virtue and justice, which would have helped them manage their fortune in a more honorable way. Without virtue, the possession of wealth, power, or privilege can lead to hubris—a destructive type of pride that alienates and degrades both the person and others.
"They imitate the proud man without being like him, and this they do where they can; so they do not act virtuously, but they do despise others. For the proud man despises justly (since he thinks truly), but the many do so at random."
Aristotle is pointing out a key difference between a truly proud person—who is virtuous—and people who merely pretend to be like them. Those who lack virtue but have advantages like wealth or power try to mimic the proud man's attitude of looking down on others. However, they're not actually like the truly proud person because their disdain for others isn't grounded in truth or justice but is random and baseless.
The truly proud person, in contrast, has a justifiable reason for their disdain because it comes from an accurate understanding of their own worth in relation to virtue. They evaluate themselves and others honestly and act accordingly, while those who lack virtue simply imitate this behavior without the moral foundation to back it up. Essentially, Aristotle is emphasizing that being truly proud requires virtue, while pretending to be proud without virtue leads to arrogance and unjust disdain for others.