ON VIRTUES AND VICES
The Aristotelian Guide to Living Well
WHY IS THIS NEEDED TODAY?
We live in an age of moral confusion. No one knows anymore:
- What is good and what is bad
- How to live virtuously
- How to cultivate character
Aristotle, 2,400 years ago, gave us clear definitions of virtues and vices. And most importantly: he showed us that virtue is not a talent - it’s a habit that can be cultivated.
Virtue is the path to flourishing.
THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE: THE MEAN
Every virtue is a mean (the “golden mean”) between two extremes - two vices:
One from deficiency (the “too little”)
The other from excess (the “too much”)
Example:
- DEFICIENCY: Cowardice (too little courage) - ΔΕΙΛΙΑ
- VIRTUE: Courage (the right amount of courage) - ΑΝΔΡΕΙΑ
- EXCESS: Recklessness (too much courage) - ΘΡΑΣΟΣ
Virtue is not “mediocre” - it is the ideal, the perfect response for each situation.
THE ESSENTIAL VIRTUES AND THEIR EXTREMES
1. COURAGE (Bravery)
DEFICIENCY: Cowardice - you fear even what is right
VIRTUE: Courage - you face fear for what is right
EXCESS: Recklessness - you fear nothing, even the dangerous
Today:
Cowardice: “I don’t speak up because I fear the consequences”
Courage: “I speak the truth despite the risk, when it matters”
Recklessness: “I speak without thinking, just to provoke”
2. TEMPERANCE (Self-Control)
DEFICIENCY: Insensibility - no pleasure, dead to passions
VIRTUE: Temperance - you enjoy with measure
EXCESS: Intemperance - slave to desires
Today:
Insensibility: “Nothing moves me, I’m emotionally dead”
Temperance: “I enjoy life without being controlled by it”
Intemperance: “I can’t resist - food, alcohol, social media”
3. LIBERALITY (Generosity)
DEFICIENCY: Stinginess - you keep everything for yourself
VIRTUE: Liberality - you give when you should, as much as you should
EXCESS: Prodigality - you give foolishly, without purpose
Today:
Stinginess: “I help no one, I keep my money”
Liberality: “I give to those who truly need it”
Prodigality: “I throw money around to show off, without purpose”
4. MAGNANIMITY (Proper Pride)
DEFICIENCY: Pusillanimity - you undervalue yourself
VIRTUE: Magnanimity - you know your worth
EXCESS: Vanity - you overvalue yourself
Today:
Pusillanimity: “I’m worthless, I’m nothing”
Magnanimity: “I know my worth, but I don’t flaunt it”
Vanity: “I’m the best, everyone should admire me”
5. GENTLENESS (Proper Anger)
DEFICIENCY: Lack of Spirit - you don’t get angry even at injustice
VIRTUE: Gentleness - you get angry rightly, at the right time
EXCESS: Irascibility - you get angry at everything
Today:
Lack of Spirit: “People walk all over me, but I don’t react”
Gentleness: “I get angry when I see injustice that must be corrected”
Irascibility: “I get angry over nothing, I’m always irritable”
6. TRUTHFULNESS (Honesty)
DEFICIENCY: Irony - you falsely undervalue yourself
VIRTUE: Truthfulness - you tell the truth about yourself
EXCESS: Boastfulness - you brag, exaggerate
Today:
Irony: “Oh I’m nothing special” (false humility)
Truthfulness: “This I can do, this I cannot - no lies”
Boastfulness: “I know everything, I’m the only one who understands”
7. WITTINESS (Good Humor)
DEFICIENCY: Boorishness - you don’t understand humor, always serious
VIRTUE: Wittiness - you joke with measure and taste
EXCESS: Buffoonery - you joke crudely, you insult
Today:
Boorishness: “Everything is serious, nothing is funny”
Wittiness: “I laugh and make others laugh without insulting”
Buffoonery: “I make crude jokes, I insult for laughs”
8. FRIENDLINESS (Sociability)
DEFICIENCY: Surliness - hostile, misanthropic
VIRTUE: Friendliness - friendly to the right degree
EXCESS: Flattery - overly friendly for personal gain
Today:
Surliness: “Everyone is an enemy, I trust no one”
Friendliness: “I’m friendly with those who deserve it”
Flattery: “I agree with everyone so they’ll like me”
9. JUSTICE - The Mother of All Virtues
Justice has no extremes - it is complete virtue in relation to others.
It means:
You give each person what they deserve
You don’t take more than what belongs to you
You honor laws when they are just
You resist when laws are unjust
HOW DO YOU CULTIVATE VIRTUE?
Aristotle is clear:
1. Virtue is a habit, not a talent
You’re not born courageous - you become courageous by doing courageous acts.
2. Start with small acts
Want to become generous? Start by giving small amounts.
Want to become courageous? Start by facing small fears.
3. Repeat until it becomes second nature
Virtue becomes part of you when it no longer requires effort.
4. Observe the extremes and avoid them
Ask: “Am I too little? Am I too much?” Find the mean.
5. Seek guidance from the virtuous
Learn from those who live well - not from those who preach.
THE END: EUDAIMONIA
Virtue is not an obligation - it is the path to happiness.
Eudaimonia doesn’t mean “I feel good.”
It means: I live well, I act rightly, I flourish as a human being.
When you live with virtue:
You have inner peace
Your relationships are genuine
Your life has meaning
You are controlled neither by fear nor by desire
This is the telos (end) - the purpose of life.
PRACTICAL EXERCISE: THE WEEKLY EXAMINATION
Each week, choose one virtue and ask:
In what situation did I show deficiency of this virtue?
In what situation did I show excess?
Where did I find the mean?
What will I do differently next week?
This examination - repeated - is the path to virtue.
REMEMBER
🏛️ Virtue is not natural talent - it is cultivated
🏛️ The mean is not “mediocre” - it is perfect
🏛️ Eudaimonia is not pleasure - it is human flourishing
🏛️ You don’t need to become perfect - you need to try rightly
“One does not become just by doing just acts once,
but by doing just acts continuously.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
This leaflet is based on Aristotle’s “On Virtues and Vices” and the “Nicomachean Ethics.”