One of the aims of sexual union is procreation - the creation by reproduction of an image of itself, of the union.

Think how different human societies would be if they were based on love rather than justice. But no such societies have ever existed on earth.

The tragedy of being both rational and animal seems to consist in having to choose between duty and desire rather than in making any particular choice

Men value things in three ways: as useful, as pleasant or sources of pleasure, and as excellent, or as intrinsically admirable or honorable.

Imaginative literature primarily pleases rather than teaches. It is much easier to be pleased than taught, but much harder to know why one is pleased. Beauty is harder to analyze than truth.

Aristotle uses a mother's love for her child as the prime example of love or friendship.

Reading a book should be a conversation between you and the author. Presumably he knows more about the subject than you do; if not, you probably should not be bothering with his book. But understanding is a two-way operation; the learner has to question himself and question the teacher, once he understands what the teacher is saying. Marking a book is literally an expression of your differences or your agreements with the author. It is the highest respect you can pay him.