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Full Idea
Humans have four roles in life, of which the fourth involves choices, of career, and of the virtue in which one wishes to excel.
Gist of Idea
We must choose in which of the virtues we wish to excel
Source
Panaetius (fragments/reports [c.145 BCE]), quoted by Elizabeth Asmis - Panaetius
Book Ref
'Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy', ed/tr. Zeyl,Donald J. [Fitzroy Dearborn 1997], p.362
A Reaction
Panaetius strikes me as exceptionally wise. A big gap in Aristotle is the fact that we cannot excel in all virtues, and that therefore some choice is required. By what criteria? We have the Gauguin problem (excel in one, disgraceful in the others).
6012 | We must choose in which of the virtues we wish to excel [Panaetius] |
6013 | Panaetius said we should live according to our natural starting-points [Panaetius, by Asmis] |
6014 | Panaetius identified courage with great-mindedness, preferring civic courage to military [Panaetius, by Asmis] |
5888 | Souls are born, since they are sensitive and inherited, so they must perish [Panaetius, by Cicero] |