Book 4 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 1 - The Mean Between Boastfulness and Mock-Modesty
Explanation - Part By Part
"The mean opposed to boastfulness is found in almost the same sphere; and this also is without a name. It will be no bad plan to describe these states as well; for we shall both know the facts about character better if we go through them in detail, and we shall be convinced that the virtues are means if we see this to be so in all cases."
Aristotle is continuing his exploration of virtues as "means" between extremes—finding a balance between two opposing characteristics. In this particular instance, he explains that the balance or "mean" that is the opposite of boastfulness (exaggerating one's qualities or achievements) also falls in the sphere of character and social interaction. However, much like some other virtues, this balanced quality does not have a specific name.
He argues that it's important to study and describe these states of character in detail because by doing so, we gain a clearer understanding of human behavior and the various expressions of virtue and vice. Additionally, this detailed exploration helps strengthen the idea that being virtuous always involves finding a balance—a mean—between two extremes. Virtue, Aristotle implies, is not just a vague concept but a consistent pattern that can be observed and applied across all aspects of life.
"In the field of social life those who make the giving of pleasure or pain their object in associating with others have been described; let us now describe those who pursue truth or falsehood alike in words and deeds and in the claims they put forward."
Aristotle is making a shift in focus here. Previously, he talked about people who interact with others by either trying to give pleasure (like being overly agreeable or contentious) or causing pain. Now, he turns to a different aspect of human interaction: how people handle truth and falsehood in what they say, do, and the way they present themselves to others. This shift introduces a new set of character traits, examining how honesty or dishonesty plays out in social and personal interactions. In essence, he's moving from exploring behaviors tied to enjoyment or conflict to behaviors tied to honesty and authenticity.
"The boastful man, then, is thought to be apt to claim the things that bring glory, when he has not got them, or to claim more of them than he has, and the mock-modest man on the other hand to disclaim what he has or belittle it, while the man who observes the mean is one who calls a thing by its own name, being truthful both in life and in word, owning to what he has, and neither more nor less."
In this part, Aristotle discusses people and how they deal with truth concerning their qualities, achievements, or possessions. He highlights three types of individuals:
1. The boastful person: This is someone who exaggerates or outright fabricates things about themselves to gain admiration or glory. For example, they might claim accomplishments they never achieved or inflate the importance of what they've done.
2. The mock-modest person: This is someone who downplays their own qualities or achievements, often either to avoid attention or, ironically, sometimes to receive praise indirectly for being "humble." They diminish their own worth in an insincere or overly self-deprecating way.
3. The person who observes the mean (the virtuous one): This is someone who sticks to the truth, presenting themselves honestly without exaggeration or false humility. They own and acknowledge what is theirs—nothing more and nothing less. This honesty applies both in what they say and in how they live their lives.
Aristotle encourages this balance because it reflects integrity. Honesty leads to trustworthiness and respect, while either extreme—boasting or false modesty—moves away from the virtue of truthfulness.
"Now each of these courses may be adopted either with or without an object. But each man speaks and acts and lives in accordance with his character, if he is not acting for some ulterior object."
Here, Aristotle emphasizes that a person's actions and words can be driven either by an ulterior motive (some hidden agenda) or simply as an expression of their true character. When someone acts without an ulterior objective, their behavior reflects who they genuinely are as a person—authentic and tied to their core character. In contrast, acting with an ulterior motive often undermines that genuineness, as it introduces a layer of manipulation or self-interest that distorts their true nature.
"And falsehood is in itself mean and culpable, and truth noble and worthy of praise. Thus the truthful man is another case of a man who, being in the mean, is worthy of praise, and both forms of untruthful man are culpable, and particularly the boastful man."
Aristotle is saying here that lying, in and of itself, is inherently bad and blameworthy because it distorts reality and leads people away from what is true. On the other hand, truth is inherently good and praiseworthy because it aligns with virtue and respects reality as it is. He uses this foundation to emphasize that the person who is truthful—who speaks and acts honestly without exaggerating or downplaying anything—is an admirable example of someone who embodies the "mean" or balance in this area of character.
Meanwhile, people who deviate from this balance by being untruthful—whether through boasting or false modesty—are blameworthy. Of the two, Aristotle particularly criticizes the boastful person. This is likely because boasting often comes from vanity or a desire for undeserved recognition, making it more openly self-serving and harmful to trust in social interactions.