Book 4 / Chapter 3
Paragraph 5 - The Character of the Proud Man
Explanation - Part By Part
"He does not run into trifling dangers, nor is he fond of danger, because he honours few things; but he will face great dangers, and when he is in danger he is unsparing of his life, knowing that there are conditions on which life is not worth having."
This part is describing how a "proud man" (or what we might think of today as someone with noble, virtuous pride or true self-respect) approaches danger and risk. Aristotle is saying that this person doesn’t bother with small, insignificant risks ("trifling dangers") because they do not hold much importance for him—he values only what truly matters. However, when faced with significant risks or great dangers that involve things he feels are worth defending (such as justice, honor, or values greater than himself), he doesn’t hesitate to face them boldly.
Furthermore, this proud person has a clear understanding that life itself is not always the highest value. There are situations where compromising one’s integrity, honor, or ideals would make life not worth living. In such cases, he is willing to risk or even sacrifice his life, showing that his virtue and principles take precedence over mere survival. This highlights the connection between true pride and moral courage—both rooted in a deep sense of what’s genuinely worthy.
"And he is the sort of man to confer benefits, but he is ashamed of receiving them; for the one is the mark of a superior, the other of an inferior. And he is apt to confer greater benefits in return; for thus the original benefactor besides being paid will incur a debt to him, and will be the gainer by the transaction."
Aristotle is describing the proud, or "great-souled," person here. This person has a strong sense of self-worth and dignity, and part of that involves how they handle giving and receiving benefits. Such a person prefers to give help to others rather than to receive it because giving reflects a position of strength or superiority, while receiving implies dependence or inferiority.
If the proud person does receive help, they feel compelled to give back even more in return. Why? Because by doing so, they subtly shift the balance: the original giver not only gets repaid but also becomes indebted to the proud person, making the exchange leave the proud individual in a stronger or "superior" position. This behavior aligns with the proud person’s goal of preserving their independence and dignity in all relationships. Essentially, they want to be the one who uplifts others, not the one being uplifted.
"They seem also to remember any service they have done, but not those they have received (for he who receives a service is inferior to him who has done it, but the proud man wishes to be superior), and to hear of the former with pleasure, of the latter with displeasure; this, it seems, is why Thetis did not mention to Zeus the services she had done him, and why the Spartans did not recount their services to the Athenians, but those they had received."
Here, Aristotle is describing one of the characteristics of a "proud" person (or what might be called a person with a noble sense of pride or self-respect). He explains how such a person tends to focus more on the good deeds they've done for others rather than the kindnesses they have received. Why? Because giving help reflects a position of superiority or strength, while receiving help implies dependence or inferiority. Since the proud person aims to maintain a sense of self-sufficiency and superiority, they prefer to highlight their acts of generosity over any situations where they might have needed others.
To make this clearer, Aristotle provides two examples from mythology and history:
1. Thetis and Zeus: Thetis (a sea goddess) did not remind Zeus (the king of gods) of the past favors she had done for him. Mentioning them would have seemed like an attempt to gain leverage or superiority over Zeus, something inconsistent with the pride or dignity expected in their relationship.
2. The Spartans and Athenians: The Spartans, rather than boasting about any help they had provided to the Athenians, drew attention to the assistance they themselves had received from the Athenians. Again, this reflects the idea that proud individuals or groups avoid emphasizing situations where they might have been in a weaker or dependent position.
Essentially, Aristotle is underscoring a key trait of the proud person—they seek to appear self-reliant and influential, avoiding anything that hints at vulnerability or need.
"It is a mark of the proud man also to ask for nothing or scarcely anything, but to give help readily, and to be dignified towards people who enjoy high position and good fortune, but unassuming towards those of the middle class; for it is a difficult and lofty thing to be superior to the former, but easy to be so to the latter, and a lofty bearing over the former is no mark of ill-breeding, but among humble people it is as vulgar as a display of strength against the weak."
Aristotle is describing what he considers the characteristics of a "proud" or "great-souled" man, which is someone with a noble and virtuous character. In this part, he explains that such a person doesn't go around asking for favors or help from others because that would imply a position of need or dependence, which doesn’t align with their sense of self-sufficiency and dignity. However, they are generous and quick to offer help to others, demonstrating their strength and superiority in a gracious way.
The proud person’s behavior towards others depends on their social position. They act dignified and respectful towards those of high status and wealth because it's genuinely challenging and admirable to carry oneself with distinction among equals or those perceived as powerful. However, they avoid being condescending towards people of lower or middle class because doing so would come across as petty and mean-spirited, similar to someone bullying the weak. Aristotle emphasizes that showing dominance in situations where it’s unnecessary or easy isn’t honorable—it’s a low and vulgar behavior, unworthy of a truly great individual.
"Again, it is characteristic of the proud man not to aim at the things commonly held in honour, or the things in which others excel; to be sluggish and to hold back except where great honour or a great work is at stake, and to be a man of few deeds, but of great and notable ones."
Aristotle is describing a specific kind of "proud man," but by "proud," he means someone who possesses a sense of noble self-worth or true greatness, rooted in virtue and character, not arrogance or conceit. Here, he explains how such a person operates: they don't chase after cheap recognition or compete for accomplishments that are widely admired just for the sake of status. Instead, they maintain a mindset of restraint, deliberately avoiding trivial pursuits or things that don't align with their lofty sense of purpose.
This type of individual prefers to engage only in actions that truly matter—those connected to significant goals or causes that are worthy of their attention and effort. Their life isn't filled with a flurry of small, inconsequential deeds meant to grab fleeting acknowledgment. Instead, they focus on a few exceptional undertakings that make a lasting impact and reflect their inner greatness. In essence, they prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to their achievements, aiming only for things worthy of great honor.
"He must also be open in his hate and in his love (for to conceal one's feelings, i.e. to care less for truth than for what people will think, is a coward's part), and must speak and act openly; for he is free of speech because he is contemptuous, and he is given to telling the truth, except when he speaks in irony to the vulgar."
Aristotle is describing the "proud man" (or "magnanimous man"), a person who embodies a sense of nobility and self-respect. Here, he emphasizes that such a person should be honest and transparent about their emotions, whether it be love or hate. According to Aristotle, hiding one's true feelings just to please others or avoid judgment is a sign of cowardice. Instead, the proud man openly expresses his likes and dislikes because he values truth over social conventions or opinions.
The proud man's honesty stems from his confidence and self-respect. He doesn't feel the need to disguise his thoughts or emotions, as he is indifferent to what others think of him. This boldness in speaking the truth comes, in part, from his sense of superiority or contempt for trivial matters and the opinions of ordinary people. However, when dealing with the "vulgar" (those he views as less refined or less virtuous), he sometimes resorts to irony—a subtle or sarcastic form of communication—rather than straightforward honesty, perhaps out of disdain or because he sees it as unnecessary to engage with them directly.
"He must be unable to make his life revolve round another, unless it be a friend; for this is slavish, and for this reason all flatterers are servile and people lacking in self-respect are flatterers. Nor is he given to admiration; for nothing to him is great. Nor is he mindful of wrongs; for it is not the part of a proud man to have a long memory, especially for wrongs, but rather to overlook them."
This part focuses on qualities of the "proud man" (or the person with "proper pride," according to Aristotle). Aristotle explains that such a person lives with a deep sense of self-respect and independence, which shapes how they approach relationships, admiration, and forgiveness.
1. Independence and self-direction: A proud person doesn’t let their life revolve around others, except close friends. To do so, Aristotle argues, would be "slavish," meaning dependent in a way that undermines dignity. He critiques flattery and people who lower themselves to gain others' approval, saying this behavior reflects a lack of self-respect.
2. Not easily impressed: The proud person isn’t one to admire things lightly or excessively because, to them, nothing seems overwhelmingly great. This doesn’t mean they lack an appreciation for excellence—it reflects their internal sense that they already understand personal worth and value, so external achievements rarely shake their perspective.
3. Forgiveness over grudges: A proud person doesn’t fixate on past wrongs or harbor resentments. Holding onto them would imply valuing those slights or giving them too much importance. Instead, they "overlook" such things as if they aren’t worth lingering on, signaling a sense of superiority and emotional strength.
Overall, these traits highlight a mix of self-containment, emotional resilience, and a refusal to let external forces dictate their happiness or values. For Aristotle, the truly proud person embodies dignity—not just in behavior, but in how they perceive themselves and the world.
"Nor is he a gossip; for he will speak neither about himself nor about another, since he cares not to be praised nor for others to be blamed; nor again is he given to praise; and for the same reason he is not an evil-speaker, even about his enemies, except from haughtiness."
Aristotle here describes the proud or truly great-souled person as someone who doesn't engage in gossip or unnecessary talk about others—or even about themselves. Why? Because such a person doesn’t value superficial things like praise, flattery, or blaming others. They don't feel the need to boost their own reputation by pointing out others’ faults or by excessively praising anyone.
Even when it comes to their enemies, they don’t engage in negative talk unless it’s out of a sense of superiority—almost as if to say that speaking ill of others is beneath them. The truly proud individual operates on a plane where recognition from others and petty rivalries simply don’t matter; their self-respect and dignity protect them from falling into such behaviors.
"With regard to necessary or small matters he is least of all me given to lamentation or the asking of favours; for it is the part of one who takes such matters seriously to behave so with respect to them."
Aristotle is saying here that a truly "proud" or noble person doesn't get upset or complain about small, trivial matters, nor do they frequently ask for favors. Why? Because being overly affected by or dependent on minor things shows a lack of perspective and self-sufficiency. Someone who acts this way is taking small problems or needs too seriously, which isn't fitting for a person of high character. The proud person holds their dignity and composure even in smaller, everyday situations, maintaining a sort of grace that reflects their superior character.
"He is one who will possess beautiful and profitless things rather than profitable and useful ones; for this is more proper to a character that suffices to itself."
Aristotle is describing what he calls the "proud man" (often interpreted as the "magnanimous man" in modern translations). Here, he emphasizes that the proud man values beauty over mere utility. In other words, this person prefers things that are aesthetically pleasing or noble, even if they don't serve a practical purpose or provide material gain.
The reasoning behind this is that such a person sees himself as self-sufficient and not driven by necessity or practicality in the same way as others might be. Seeking only what is practical or useful implies a dependency on external things for survival or success. The proud man's focus on beauty reflects his belief that his character and life are already complete and rich in quality. Therefore, he can regard things of no immediate material value—like art, fine craftsmanship, or noble acts—as worthy of appreciation for their own sake, not for what they "do" or "give" in a utilitarian sense.
This mindset aligns with Aristotle's broader idea that the highest virtues and aims in life aren’t simply about functionality or survival, but about fulfilling the deeper, nobler potential of a human being.