Book 7 / Chapter 10

Paragraph 3 - Forms of Incontinence and Their Curability

Explanation - Part By Part

Part 1
Original Text:

"Of the forms of incontinence, that of excitable people is more curable than that of those who deliberate but do not abide by their decisions, and those who are incontinent through habituation are more curable than those in whom incontinence is innate; for it is easier to change a habit than to change one's nature;"

Aristotle is explaining that different types of lack of self-control (incontinence) are easier or harder to address depending on their causes.

He says it's generally easier to "fix" or help people who are impulsive, acting out of sudden emotions or excitement, rather than those who calmly think through what’s right but still fail to act on it. The reason is that impulsive people lose control in the heat of the moment, while those who fail after deliberating display a deeper struggle—because they know better but still don’t follow through.

Similarly, Aristotle explains that it is easier to change people who have become incontinent because of habits they’ve developed (like a bad routine or learned behavior) than it is to change those who are naturally prone to incontinence from birth or their innate nature. This is because habits, while difficult to overcome, are still more flexible compared to someone’s deep-seated, inherent tendencies. Changing one’s nature is far more challenging than reprogramming learned behaviors.

Part 2
Original Text:

"even habit is hard to change just because it is like nature, as Evenus says: I say that habit's but a long practice, friend, And this becomes men's nature in the end."

Aristotle is explaining that habits, although not as deeply ingrained as innate traits, can still be incredibly difficult to change. He quotes Evenus to emphasize this point: habits are formed through repeated actions or "long practice," and over time, they become so deeply embedded that they resemble a person's very nature. In other words, what we repeatedly do shapes who we are, and breaking those entrenched patterns is a challenge precisely because they feel natural or instinctive.

This highlights the profound impact of our daily actions and routines. A habit isn’t just something we casually do—it has the potential to mold our character, for better or worse. Therefore, while habits can be changed and aren't as permanent as inherent traits, shifting them requires significant effort and time because they operate almost like second nature.

Part 3
Original Text:

"We have now stated what continence, incontinence, endurance, and softness are, and how these states are related to each other."

Aristotle is concluding his discussion on the qualities of continence (self-control), incontinence (lack of self-control), endurance (the ability to bear hardships or resist temptations), and softness (a tendency to give in easily to discomfort or temptation). He has analyzed these traits and their connections to one another, explaining how they influence human behavior. Essentially, he’s wrapping up this section of his exploration of moral character, having defined these traits and clarified how they differ in terms of strength, reasoning, and the capacity for change.