Book 7 / Chapter 10
Paragraph 2 - Incontinence and Continence in Relation to Excess
Explanation - Part By Part
"Now incontinence and continence are concerned with that which is in excess of the state characteristic of most men;"
Aristotle is saying that both incontinence (lack of self-control) and continence (self-restraint) deal with behaviors or reactions that go beyond what is typical for the average person. In other words, these qualities involve exceeding the "normal" or common level of how people generally handle situations that test their self-discipline. Instead of being ordinary reactions, they represent extremes in either failing to control impulses or maintaining exceptional control.
"for the continent man abides by his resolutions more and the incontinent man less than most men can."
Aristotle is highlighting a key difference between two types of people: the continent and the incontinent. A continent person is someone who sticks to their decisions and follows through with them, even when it's challenging—more so than the average person. On the other hand, an incontinent person struggles to maintain their self-control and is more likely to deviate from their decisions or give in to temptations—more so than most people. Essentially, he’s measuring their strength of will against what is typical for others.