“If happiness is activity in accordance with excellence, it is reasonable that it should be in accordance with the highest excellence.”
What this quote means
Aristotle here pushes his reflection on happiness by linking it to excellence, and more precisely to the highest excellence. This means that true happiness is not found in mediocre or superficial activities but in the development of our greatest capacities. It is a call to surpass ourselves, to cultivate our talents, and to aim for the best in ourselves. In a society that often favors ease, this quote reminds us that fulfillment comes through effort and the pursuit of meaning.
How to apply it daily
Identify your talent or main strength and plan an action this week that allows you to exercise it fully.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Aristotle?
Our starting point
Reflecting on happiness, virtues, and the good life
Nicomachean Ethics
It is the richest text for understanding his ideas about habits, the mean, and flourishing.
- Level
- Demanding
- Reading time
- 10–14 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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