Nicomachean Ethics

might be seized by a desire, they might themselves be able to grasp at their own discretion these things which we received from his own mouth. For this reason, I followed his translation and his order of explanation in greater detail, occasionally employing a broad and expansive style of speech, so that the explanation might be clearer and more accessible to everyone. But in truth, all these things ought to be credited to you, Cosimo, and to your son Piero, by whose efforts it has come to pass that from the most fruitful discourses of this supreme philosopher, after the manner of the ancients, doctrine might flow to your citizens; and that in the city of Florence—in which the other arts greatly flourish—the study of wisdom might also flourish as far as possible. Wherefore no one ought to marvel if learned men bring all their watchful labors and the exercises of their intellect to you above all others. Moreover, I undertook the writing of these things especially in your name, because I judge that no discourses will be more pleasing to a man most excellent in every kind of virtue than those which concern moderation of the soul, liberality, magnificence, and the rest of the virtues. In these you alone so greatly excel—as both we know and as your own vast and frequent renown declares—that, not content with the borders of Italy, having progressed further and wider, your name is celebrated by the tongues and writings of many among foreign nations. This ought to be a glory to you first, and then an example to the rest of the citizens: so that, as much as they are able to strive with zeal and labor, they may imitate your supreme virtues and emerge as such men as Aristotle described in these books of his—happy and perfect in all probity. These books we now have in hand, so that we may bring forth their explanation, as we have said, after first setting out certain matters which seemed necessary to know. Before we approach the exposition of the book of Morals, it will not be unprofitable to bring forward first the definition of philosophy, then its division, and several other things which seem to pertain in no small measure to the clarification of this subject.