Book 9 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 1 - The Necessity of Friends for the Happy Man
Explanation - Part By Part
"It is also disputed whether the happy man will need friends or not. It is said that those who are supremely happy and self-sufficient have no need of friends; for they have the things that are good, and therefore being self-sufficient they need nothing further, while a friend, being another self, furnishes what a man cannot provide by his own effort; whence the saying 'when fortune is kind, what need of friends?'"
In this part, Aristotle is exploring whether a truly happy and self-sufficient person actually needs friends. The argument against needing friends goes like this: if someone is fully happy and has everything they need to live well, they wouldn't require anything more, including friends. A friend, in this view, is understood as someone who provides support or helps fill in the gaps of what a person might lack. If a person is already complete and self-sufficient, they wouldn't have those gaps, so friends would become unnecessary. This is summed up in the saying, "when fortune is kind, what need of friends?"—meaning that if life is already treating someone well, the need for friends might seem irrelevant.
"But it seems strange, when one assigns all good things to the happy man, not to assign friends, who are thought the greatest of external goods."
Aristotle finds it odd, even contradictory, to claim that the truly happy person, who is thought to possess all good things, would not have friends. Friendship is widely regarded as one of the most significant external goods—a source of connection, mutual benefit, and meaning. Quite simply, if someone is said to have everything good in life, how could they possibly lack something as universally valued and essential as genuine friendship?
"And if it is more characteristic of a friend to do well by another than to be well done by, and to confer benefits is characteristic of the good man and of virtue, and it is nobler to do well by friends than by strangers, the good man will need people to do well by."
Aristotle is making a point about the very nature of friendship and its connection to virtuous living. The essence of friendship, he argues, lies in doing good for others rather than simply receiving good in return. This aligns with the character of a virtuous person, who inherently finds value in acts of generosity, kindness, and benefiting others.
Moreover, Aristotle emphasizes that it is even more noble to share these virtuous actions with close friends rather than random strangers. This is because friendship involves a deeper, mutual relationship built on trust, respect, and goodwill. So, for a virtuous and good person to fully live out their nature—expressing their virtue—they need close relationships with others to direct their goodwill, care, and moral actions toward. Friendship, in this sense, becomes a necessary part of living a flourishing and complete life.
"This is why the question is asked whether we need friends more in prosperity or in adversity, on the assumption that not only does a man in adversity need people to confer benefits on him, but also those who are prospering need people to do well by."
Aristotle is addressing the question of whether we need friends more when we’re struggling (adversity) or when everything is going well (prosperity). The assumption behind this question is twofold: when someone is going through hard times, they obviously need friends who can support them and offer help. But even when someone is thriving, they still need friends—not to receive help, but to share their good fortune by doing good for others. Friendship, then, is not just about necessity in tough times; it is also about sharing and generosity during times of abundance.
"Surely it is strange, too, to make the supremely happy man a solitary; for no one would choose the whole world on condition of being alone, since man is a political creature and one whose nature is to live with others."
Aristotle is emphasizing that it would be very odd to imagine someone who is perfectly happy living completely alone. Humans are inherently social beings—what he calls "political creatures"—and are naturally inclined to live and interact with others. No matter how much someone might have in terms of wealth, power, or success, it is unlikely that they would choose all of that at the cost of complete isolation, because relationships and connections with people are a fundamental part of human nature and happiness.
"Therefore even the happy man lives with others; for he has the things that are by nature good. And plainly it is better to spend his days with friends and good men than with strangers or any chance persons. Therefore the happy man needs friends."
Aristotle is making the case that even someone who is truly happy—a person who is self-sufficient and has everything that is naturally good—still benefits from having friends. This is because humans are inherently social beings ("political creatures"), and it is part of our nature to live and interact with others. No one would choose to have everything in the world if it meant living in complete isolation. Since spending time with friends and virtuous people is far better than being surrounded by random or untrustworthy individuals, even the happiest person thrives in the company of good friends. Therefore, friendship is essential, even for someone who is already fulfilled and content.