Men are good in but one way, but bad in many.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon Buy the Nicomachean Ethics at Amazon
Read the Nicomachean Ethics at MIT's classics department website

More information about this quote

Topic

Human nature Nature of man

Author

Aristotle

Source

The Nicomachean Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics]. c. 322 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing, 2019, bk. 2.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Aristotle about human nature: “Men are good in but one way, but bad in many.”
Download
A quote by Aristotle about human nature: “Men are good in but one way, but bad in many.”
Download
A quote by Aristotle about human nature: “Men are good in but one way, but bad in many.”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Aristotle

All men by nature desire to know.

Aristotle

Metaphysics

Buy Metaphysics at Amazon Buy Metaphysics at Amazon
More information about this quote
Topic
Curiosity Knowledge Human nature

Author

Aristotle
Source
Metaphysics
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. τὰ μετὰ τὰ φυσικά [Those after the physics]. c. 322 BC, bk. 1.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Metaphysics, translated by Hugh Lawson-Tancred. Penguin Classics, 1999, book alpha.

Another quote about Human nature

In this war, things get confused out there. Power, ideals, the old morality, practical military necessity. But out there with these natives, it must be a temptation to be God. 'Cause there's a conflict in every human heart, between the rational and the irrational, between good and evil, and good does not always triumph. Sometimes, the dark side overcomes what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. Every man has got a breaking point. You and I have one. Walt Kurtz has reached his and very obviously, he has gone insane.

Apocalypse Now

Watch Apocalypse Now at Amazon Watch Apocalypse Now at Amazon
More information about this quote
Topic
Good and evil Human nature Vietnam War
Speaker
General R. Corman
Actor
G. D. Spradlin
Source
Apocalypse Now
Medium
Film
Genre
Psychological drama (film) War (film) Psychological drama War
Language
English
Time
1979 1970s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Apocolypse Now. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Omni Zoetrope, 1979.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Man is the measure of all things.

Protagoras

Quoted in Theaetetus, by Plato

Buy Theaetetus at Amazon Buy Theaetetus at Amazon
Read Theaetetus at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of man
Speaker
Protagoras

Author

Plato
Source
Theaetetus
Medium
Philosophical dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
420 BC 420s BC 5th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Plato. Θεαίτητος [Theatetus]. c. 400 BC.

Current Citation

Plato. Theatetus, translated by John McDowell. Oxford University Press, 2014.

Another quote originally in Greek

For what should a man live, if not for the pleasures of discourse?

Plato

Phaedrus

Buy Phaedrus at Amazon Buy Phaedrus at Amazon
Read Phaedrus at Project Gutenberg
More information about this quote
Topic
Good conversation Purpose of life
Speaker
Phaedrus

Author

Plato
Source
Phaedrus
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Question
Language
Greek
Time
370 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Φαῖδρος [Phaedrus], written by Plato. c. 370 BC, section 258e.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in "Phaedrus." Plato: Lysis; Symposium; Phaedrus, written by Plato, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2022, sect. 258e.