Aristotle argued that a person could not have an excellent life without being an excellent person.

  1. Only an excellent person —a virtuous person—would be able to consistently do those things most conducive to having a good life.
  2. And being an excellent person is an essential part of what having a good life would be.

So,

Only an excellent person can have a truly good life.

If that’s true, the most successful people in life are

  • wise
  • generous
  • honest
  • truthful
  • trustworthy
  • just
  • patient
  • charitable
  • understanding
  • unselfish
  • flexible, but not wimps
  • reasonable
  • gracious
  • merciful
  • kind
  • peaceful
  • angered by injustice
  • inspiring
  • uplifting
  • empathetic
  • encouraging
  • affirming
  • gentle
  • need not be the centre of attention
  • not self-seeking
  • trusting, but not easily fooled
  • forgiving
  • knowledgeable
  • at peace
  • cooperative
  • hopeful
  • faithful
  • loving
  • reliable
  • courageous
  • consistent
  • tolerant
  • sacrificial
  • humble
  • forgiven, for all the ways (s)he is not this way.

Alright, the last bit is Jesus not Aristotle.

But it is an absolutely essential addition.

-June 2017