However, without prudence there is no virtue. When prudence exists in the complete sense, all the other virtues are present. Some people are naturally virtuous and desire good ends. The greatest natural virtue is wisdom. The virtue which one must develop in order to attain moral virtue and to find the correct mean in all of one's actions is prudence.
Prudence is the ability to deliberate well regarding human actions.
It seems, however, that by connecting prudence and ethical virtue so closely, Aristotle has created a closed circle which precludes one from becoming virtuous. Prudence concerns means, not ends. The correct end is presupposed. But the ends themselves seem to require prudence. Perhaps the answer to this paradox is that virtuous habits can be acquired little by little through proper education and obedience to just laws.