One Swallow Does Not Make a Summer — Aristotle

How can one live well in the world What does it mean to be happy In this selection from The Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle probes the nature of happiness and virtue in a quest to divine an ethical value system Exploring ideas of community responsibility courage friendship agency reasoning desire and pleasure these are some of the most profound and lasting ancient writings on the self to have influenced Western thought Throughout history some books have changed the world They have transformed the way we see ourselves and each other They have inspired debate dissent war and revolution They have enlightened outraged provoked and comforted They have enriched lives and upended them Now Penguin brings you a new set of the acclaimed Great Ideas a curated library of selections from the works of the great thinkers pioneers radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are