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About this quote

What does it mean?
Some actions are inherently wrong regardless of timing, manner, or partner.
In plain terms
Some things are always wrong, no matter how you do them.
What can you take from it?
Some moral rules have no exceptions.

Where it applies

  • moral dilemmas
  • law
  • personal conduct

Putting it to work

  • identify non-negotiable values
  • avoid rationalizing bad acts

Questions to consider

  • Are some things always wrong?
  • Where do you draw the line?

Another view

Context can sometimes change moral judgments.

More from Aristotle

  1. The vices respectively fall short of or exceed what is right in both passions and actions, while virtue both finds and chooses that which is intermediate.

    Permalink to quote #53
  2. Any one can get angry - that is easy - or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motiv…

    Permalink to quote #55
  3. Again, it is possible to fail in many ways (for evil belongs to the class of the unlimited ... and good to that of the limited), while to succeed is possible o…

    Permalink to quote #52

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