Book 7 / Chapter 12
Paragraph 5 - The Role of Pleasures in Practical Wisdom
Explanation - Part By Part
"Neither practical wisdom nor any state of being is impeded by the pleasure arising from it; it is foreign pleasures that impede."
Aristotle is emphasizing that pleasure derived from activities like exercising practical wisdom or achieving a virtuous state of being does not hinder those activities. On the contrary, such pleasures are harmonious with those pursuits and can even enhance them. However, when the pleasure comes from something unrelated or "foreign" to those activities—such as distractions or indulgences unrelated to wisdom—it can act as an obstacle, pulling your focus or energy away from your goal. Essentially, not all pleasures are equal: those aligned with virtue support it, while unrelated pleasures may get in the way.
"For the pleasures arising from thinking and learning will make us think and learn all the more."
Aristotle is highlighting here that when we find pleasure in activities like thinking and learning, that pleasure enhances our engagement with those activities, encouraging us to think and learn even more. In other words, when the process itself is enjoyable, it becomes self-reinforcing—pleasure acts as a kind of motivational fuel, driving us to continue pursuing knowledge or intellectual growth.