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Single Idea 5235

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / f. The Mean]

Full Idea

Patience is commended, because a patient person tends to be unperturbed and not carried away by his feelings, but indignant only in the way and on the grounds and for the length of time that his 'logos' prescribes.

Clarification

'Logos' is principle or reason

Gist of Idea

Patient people are indignant, but only appropriately, as their reason prescribes

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1125b33)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.160


A Reaction

Because the word 'logos' is used here, this strikes me as Aristotle's best statement of his doctrine of the mean (which is never the middle way, but always the appropriate way).