Aristotle

Great Deeds Require More Than Desire

The transition from wishing to doing also depends on decision-making. Aristotle distinguishes mere appetite from choice (prohairesis), the deliberate commitment to a course of action. A person may wish to be healthy, wise, or brave, but choice converts that wish into a plan governed by reason—what to do next, what to avoid, and what tradeoffs to accept. In everyday terms, someone might wish to write a book, yet only choosing a writing schedule, accepting imperfect drafts, and persisting through boredom turns the wish into progress. Aristotle’s point is practical: greatness is less a mood than a series of chosen steps. [...]

Strength Grows Where Comfort Is Refused

Aristotle’s line turns self-improvement into a deliberate decision: you can select what feels familiar, or you can select what enlarges you. By urging us to “choose the work that stretches you,” he implies that growth is not accidental—it is cultivated through tasks that exceed our current ease and competence. From there, the second clause—“comfort seldom builds strength”—acts like a quiet warning. If our days are organized only around what is painless and predictable, we may preserve short-term peace while trading away long-term capability. [...]

Redefining Success Through the Risks of Becoming Yourself

Finally, translate the insight into motion. Write a telos statement—one sentence naming the kind of person you aim to be—and list three values that operationalize it. Design small, safe-to-fail bets that express those values this month: a candid proposal, a boundary with a client, a skill rehearsal. Run a premortem to mitigate avoidable harm, then debrief each bet: What did I learn about my fear, my craft, and my fit? Calibrate using the golden mean—dial risks up if you’re stagnating, down if you’re grandstanding—and let the ledger of principled attempts become your measure of success. [...]

Hope is the Dream of the Waking Man - Aristotle

This quote illustrates the essential role of hope in our lives. Just as dreams give direction and purpose to someone who is asleep, hope provides motivation and aspiration to those who are awake and conscious. [...]

Hope Is the Dream of a Waking Man - Aristotle

Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, extensively explored concepts related to human behavior, ethics, and emotions. This quote reflects his understanding of hope as a driving force in human life and its role in conscious decision-making and aspirations. [...]

Hope is the Dream of a Waking Man - Aristotle

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, often explored concepts related to human behavior, ethics, and cognitive processes. This quote embodies his understanding of human nature and the importance of hope in leading a fulfilling life. [...]

Hope Is the Dream of a Waking Man - Aristotle

Aristotle's quote portrays hope as a form of aspiration or goal-setting that occurs in a state of awareness and consciousness, as opposed to dreams that occur during sleep. [...]