Book 9 / Chapter 7
Paragraph 3 - The Love of Labor and Parenthood
Explanation - Part By Part
"Again, all men love more what they have won by labour; e.g. those who have made their money love it more than those who have inherited it; and to be well treated seems to involve no labour, while to treat others well is a laborious task."
Aristotle is making a simple but profound observation about human nature: we tend to value and cherish things that we have worked hard to achieve or create more than things that come to us effortlessly or by luck, such as an inheritance. This is because hard work ties us emotionally and psychologically to the results—we feel a deeper connection to what we've poured our time, effort, and energy into. On the other hand, being treated well—receiving kindness or generosity—doesn't require any effort from us. It's passive, and therefore, it doesn't inspire the same kind of deep attachment or appreciation that comes with actively putting in the work to create or achieve something.
"These are the reasons, too, why mothers are fonder of their children than fathers; bringing them into the world costs them more pains, and they know better that the children are their own."
Aristotle is saying here that mothers generally tend to love their children more deeply than fathers do because they invest more effort, pain, and personal sacrifice into bringing them into the world. The process of pregnancy, childbirth, and the physical and emotional toll it takes is something unique to mothers, making their bond with their children naturally stronger. Additionally, mothers have absolute certainty that the child is theirs since they biologically carried the child, whereas fathers may not always have the same level of biological certainty. This greater emotional and physical "investment" naturally fosters a deeper affection.
"This last point, too, would seem to apply to benefactors."
Aristotle is saying that benefactors—those who give or help others—are often more attached to the people they help than the recipients are to the benefactors. This is similar to how mothers, due to the labor and effort involved in childbirth, often feel a unique and stronger attachment to their children compared to fathers. The idea here is that the more effort or labor we invest in something, the more we value it. Benefactors put in effort to help others, which creates a sense of pride, connection, and ownership over their actions. This emotional bond stems from their active role, making their affection for the ones they help stronger.