Kitap 1
6.6
The virtues also must be a good thing; for those who possess them are in a sound condition, and they are also productive of good things and practical. However, we must speak separately concerning each—what it is, and of what kind.
6.7
Pleasure also must be a good; for all living creatures naturally desire it. Hence it follows that both agreeable and beautiful things must be good; for the former produce pleasure, while among beautiful things some are pleasant and others are desirable in themselves.
6.8
To enumerate them one by one, the following things must necessarily be good. Happiness, since it is desirable in itself and self-sufficient, and to obtain it we choose a number of things.
6.9
Justice, courage, self-control, magnanimity, magnificence, and all other similar states of mind, for they are virtues of the soul.
6.10
Health, beauty, and the like, for they are virtues of the body and produce many advantages; for instance, health is productive of pleasure and of life, wherefore it is thought to be best of all, because it is the cause of two things which the majority of men prize most highly.
6.11
Wealth, since it is the excellence of acquisitionThe excellence of anything is proportionate to its success in the performance of its proper function. The function of acquisition is to get something valuable, such as money, and its excellence may be judges by the amount of wealth obtained. and productive of many things.
6.12
A friend and friendship, since a friend is desirable in himself and produces many advantages.
6.13
Honor and good repute, since they are agreeable and produce many advantages, and are generally accompanied by the possession of those things for which men are honored.
6.14
Eloquence and capacity for action; for all such faculties are productive of many advantages.
