The Shoemaker and the General #72

Aristotle on cherishing adversity

“If activities are,” Aristotle says in the Nicomachean Ethics, “what gives life its character, no happy man can become miserable; for he will never do the acts that are hateful and mean.”

Photo by Gabriele Diwald on Unsplash

Welcome back to our year-long experiment of living the great theories of happiness in our everyday lives. Today, we look at how the wise person should approach the hardships and setbacks that are part of every life. Don’t forget to subscribe, if you have not yet done so. If you enjoy this series, please tell others who might be interested!

Does happiness just happen?

Let’s look again at this quote from Aristotle’s famous book on ethics:

“If activities are what gives life its character, no happy man can become miserable; for he will never do the acts that are hateful and mean.” (Nicomachean Ethics, Book I)