"The moral virtues, then, are produced in us neither by nature nor against nature. Nature, indeed, prepares in us the ground for their reception, but their complete formation is the product of habit"
- Aristotle
About this Quote
Aristotle's quote recommends that moral virtues are not inherent, but rather are established through practice. He recommends that nature provides the foundation for the development of these virtues, however it depends on us to cultivate them. This indicates that ethical virtues are not something that we are born with, however rather something that we need to work to get. It depends on us to form practices that will lead to the development of these virtues. Aristotle's quote recommends that it is our duty to cultivate ethical virtues, which nature provides us with the tools to do so. This implies that we should be proactive in our pursuit of moral virtues, and that we need to be willing to put in the effort to establish them.