For no one would call him just, if he did not enjoy doing just actions or generous if he did not enjoy generous actions, and similarly for the other virtues. A virtuous man is known by his good actions. If this is so, virtuous actions must be in themselves pleasant. But they are also good and noble. Happiness then is the best, noblest, and most pleasant thing in the world.
Happiness is the best, noblest and most pleasant thing.
The pursuit of happiness needs external goods as well. Happiness is the god-like prize of a virtuous life. It follows, then, that the happy person has the stability we are looking for and keeps the character he has throughout his life. For always, or more than anything else, he will do and study the actions expressing virtue, and will bear fortunes most finely, in every way and in all conditions appropriately, since he is truly 'good, foursquare and blameless'. For we believe that the truly good and wise man bears all his fortunes with dignity and always takes the most honourable course that circumstances permit.