Book 9
3
For (d) the good man is of one mind with himself, and desires the same things with every part of his nature. Also (a) he wishes his own good, real as well as apparent, and seeks it by action (for it is a mark of a good man to exert himself actively for the good) ; and he does so for his own sake (for he does it on account of the intellectual part of himself, and this appears to be a man’s real self). Also (b) he desires his own life and security, and especially that of his rational part.
4
For existence is good for the virtuous man; and everyone wishes his own good: no one would choose to possess every good in the world on condition of becoming somebody else (for God possesses the good even as it is),The parenthesis seems to mean that as no one gains by God’s now having the good, he would not gain if a new person which was no longer himself were to possess it ( Ross). But and every one . . . whatever he may be should perhaps be rejected as interpolated. but only while remaining himself, whatever he may be; and it would appear that the thinking part is the real self, or is so more than anything else.
