tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post6543255227592746670..comments2024-01-04T08:02:29.500-05:00Comments on Attempts: "Happiness is the Exercise of Vital Powers, Along Lines of Excellence, in a Life Affording Them Scope"Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16524368948187746248noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-30319530980179208472022-10-03T17:27:19.212-04:002022-10-03T17:27:19.212-04:00Its intentionally that way as to allow you to phil...Its intentionally that way as to allow you to philosophize over it - however it's essentially saying:<br /><br />Vital powers = your life actions, essentially the powers your life provides i.e. brain power, muscle power, human power<br /><br />Along lines of excellence = something you can do or learn to do in a highly proficient manner<br /><br />In a life affording then scope = you have the opportunity or time or other life factors allowing pursuing these things. <br /><br />So effectively you're happy if you can focus your life energy and provide time and daily focus to work on something you will enjoy producing with excellence. So basically do what you love. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-44978983682363592732021-09-28T12:56:33.657-04:002021-09-28T12:56:33.657-04:00It's essentially a close paraphrase of Aristot...It's essentially a close paraphrase of Aristotle's definition of happiness but with "vital" substituted for "rational" -- not a trivial change.BerserkRLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14062423528796946671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-13178062851500255372019-05-15T07:46:50.406-04:002019-05-15T07:46:50.406-04:00"Happiness is the exercise of vital powers&qu..."Happiness is the exercise of vital powers", so what are vital powers?<br />"Along lines of excellence, in a life affording them scope". What does this even mean?<br /><br />A great maxim or proverb but I don't understand what it means on a personal level. Call me ignorant but I really want to know so I can implement it in my daily life!Matthew Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07564546155986482730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-61264560864704811752018-09-11T16:31:49.139-04:002018-09-11T16:31:49.139-04:00Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and JFK brought...Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and JFK brought me here for the origin story. Thanks, Edith Hamilton! And JFK and Ms. Fletcher!ThLaurel1971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-19507129687572899082016-01-01T20:00:27.076-05:002016-01-01T20:00:27.076-05:00My teachers taught me to make happiness my goal, b...My teachers taught me to make happiness my goal, but that money will not make me happy and that I must learn the definition as I grow. In college in 1964 I read Edith Hamilton's definition from the ancient Greeks and have used it as a guide ever since. The word "scope" is flexible, as our scope changes as we continue to grow. I have tried to research this definition with the same conclusion noted above. It is also interesting to note that the Time Life Books, "Classical Greece" 1967 p.26 states, "A MAN OF THE MIND: Aristotle defined the state of happiness as the exercise of all a man's 'vital powers along lines of excellence.'" However, a reference for this quote is either not given or I could not find it in the reference section. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-47784902792938390382015-12-14T18:28:46.145-05:002015-12-14T18:28:46.145-05:00JMS was a writer on Murder She Wrote. He probably...JMS was a writer on Murder She Wrote. He probably put it in that, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-28819663410906502822015-12-04T15:10:45.081-05:002015-12-04T15:10:45.081-05:00Jessica Fletcher said it is about 2000 years old l...Jessica Fletcher said it is about 2000 years old like a legacy.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03582921150074292586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-72355716765917402342015-12-04T15:06:39.646-05:002015-12-04T15:06:39.646-05:00It is also quoted episode 17 of 'Murder She Wr...It is also quoted episode 17 of 'Murder She Wrote' Tv series. 1991.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03582921150074292586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-65673729513631525732012-12-03T16:18:57.617-05:002012-12-03T16:18:57.617-05:00I also found it in Acheson's book on p. 239. ...I also found it in Acheson's book on p. 239. He cites Henry W. Nevinson's book "Changes and Chances" published in 1923. Note though that Acheson places the Greek quote in single quotes so presumably Nevinson was quoting it from somewhere earlier.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06315507653534505502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-44318153241344622482012-01-12T05:51:05.901-05:002012-01-12T05:51:05.901-05:00Thanks for this! This was my grandmother's phi...Thanks for this! This was my grandmother's philosophy. An undated, hand written text from her with this exact quote just resurfaced. She wrote that it is an "ancient Greek proverb", which led me to google it and to your article.<br /><br />My grandmother, Frances Farmer Stevens, lived in China in the 20's and in New York in the 30's -- I am wondering if she knew Edith Hamilton... On the other hand, she may have gotten it from Kennedy... hard to say now.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04855156445588778076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-3619685791172712672011-08-07T20:25:06.615-04:002011-08-07T20:25:06.615-04:00I first ran across this quotation in Dean Acheson&...I first ran across this quotation in Dean Acheson's book Present at the Creation, but I don't have a page reference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13734864.post-1388832822945434282007-07-12T13:56:00.000-04:002007-07-12T13:56:00.000-04:00Good work! And this in the same week that I learn...Good work! <BR/><BR/>And this in the same week that I learned that <BR/><BR/><I>"Time is the fire in which we burn" </I><BR/><BR/>was first uttered by Delmore Schwarz, and not Dr. Tolian Soran, as I had heretofore believed.<BR/><BR/>Eventually, I will have my high art and my low art all sorted out.phosphorioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06742073511218096394noreply@blogger.com