The generality of men are naturally apt to be swayed by fear rather than reverence, and to refrain from evil rather because of the punishment that it brings than because of its own foulness.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Most people avoid evil to fear punishment rather than because they recognize its moral wrongness.
- In plain terms
- Most people stay away from bad things because they fear punishment not because they know it is wrong.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus on education to foster inner moral conviction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Would you be good without fear of punishment?
- How can we move people from fear to reverence?
Another view
This view may not apply to everyone as some people act on principle alone.
More from Aristotle
The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead.
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