Book 1
12
Therefore their life has no need of pleasure as a sort of ornamental appendage,The word is especially used of an amulet hung round the neck or fastened round a limb but contains its pleasure in itself. For there is the further consideration that the man who does not enjoy doing noble actions is not a good man at all: no one would call a man just if he did not like acting justly, nor liberal if he did not like doing liberal things, and similarly with the other virtues.
13
But if so, actions in conformity with virtue must be essentially pleasant.
13
But they are also of course both good and noble, and each in the highest degree, if the good man judges them rightly; and his judgement is as we have said.
14
It follows therefore that happiness is at once the best, the noblest, and the pleasantest of things: these qualities are not separated as the inscription at Delos makes out— Justice is noblest, and health is best, But the heart’s desire is the pleasantest—, for the best activities possess them all; and it is the best activities, or one activity which is the best of all, in which according to our definition happiness consists.
