It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of reason is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Aristotle argues that lacking the ability to use reason and speech is more shameful than lacking physical defense.
- In plain terms
- It is worse to fail at thinking and speaking than to fail at fighting.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize rational abilities over physical ones.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines human excellence?
- How do you weigh mental vs physical skills?
Another view
Physical safety can be more immediately vital than abstract reasoning in crises.
More from Aristotle
Time crumbles things; everything grows old under the power of Time and is forgotten through the lapse of Time.
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