Further, a slow step is thought proper to the magnanimous man… for the man who takes few things seriously is not likely to be hurried…
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
As is often the case, these words of Aristotle must be carefully considered. “The man who takes few things seriously” can sound like a man who doesn’t really value things—as though he were excessively nonchalant and under-estimates the worth of things. From the context it is clear that Aristotle rather is pointing to the man who properly judges things: a man who has recognized the few things that are really important in life.
So the man who judges things well, seeing things for what they are, is not in a hurry. Indeed, he usually walks with a measured, peaceful gait.
I had seen this text long ago, and I didn’t really make much of it. Then last week I was on retreat, and I kept catching myself rushing, bounding up and down stairs as though there wasn’t a minute to lose, when in fact there was no real need to hurry.
Honestly, what also came to mind was the Alabama song: “I’m in a hurry to get things done, Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die. But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”
Perhaps the last line is what separates me from the magnanimous man. I let myself get in a hurry, even though there isn’t a pressing need. An example comes to mind: how often have I gotten angry at my children when I go to pick them up somewhere if they so much as linger an extra moment to say farewell to their friends? “How dare you keep Daddy waiting!” As though the standard assumption is: Daddy has way too much to do, and you’re holding him up! Let’s get on with this!
But all I’ve really got to do is live well, and to die well. Yes, of course, this calls for being well-organized so as to fit in all the things that must get done; and sometimes it will require moving with alacrity.
Yet my normal mode should not be: I’m in a hurry; I’m behind; you just don’t realize how much I’ve got to do!
I’ve decided to start by slowing down my gait. It’s been hard. Even harder will be to learn really and truly to put first things first, to recognize what really matters and what doesn’t, and to act like it. The magnanimous man, which literally means the ‘great-souled man,’ takes seriously what he should. And for that very reason he is careful not to be in too much of a hurry.
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great, has been considered by many to be the greatest ancient philosopher. The Nicomachean Ethics is his major ethical work.
Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.
Oh my goodness! This is so on-point for me right now (or perhaps I should say that I am ripe to hear it). We have a lot of family business right now (selling a house, other things) and a lot of it presses on our time. But also, many of these operations involve waiting for other people and I haven’t distinguished between the two cases effectively. I am still in a rush while I am waiting on other people, and that makes no sense at all! 😀 I need to be in a _proper_ hurry only when it can do good, when it is for me to perform and when the activity of sufficient genuine importance. Sounds like I need to practice a slower gait myself!
Thank you for this comment. It makes me think of more ways I need to look at my own situation right now too!
Remember how slowly the Clear Creek monks would walk? It seemed like they had a gait twice the length of a normal man.
Yes indeed. It’s remarkable how the effects of a more recollected life show up in many small things!
Living within the bounds of a major city, I especially think of these words regarding traffic. How many car accidents I pass by or witness each day (!) because of hurry and impatience. Whether hurried to respond to a text message or simply hurried to get around another car, bus, anything, really. It is perhaps a good reflection that sometimes our vice of taking minor things too seriously can instill such impatience in us that it could, one day, come at the expense of a life. A bit dramatic, but it does weigh on my mind at least twice a day, coming and going from work. Why the rush? Sure, it isn’t how any of us would prefer to spend parts of my day. But if sitting in traffic is the worst thing that happens to me everyday, perhaps my life is really not so tough.
What a great point, Emily. Thank you. I completely agree; I think I should look more closely at my habits in traffic. There is much at stake, on a number of levels…
As usual – wonderful insight. A struggle at home with many kids and a “busy life” (which is not necessarily the same as a “Good Life”). Good thing to consider perhaps while hiking up Old Rag! (free plug for your Oct 5 trip with the Institute of Catholic Culture).
Ah yes–hiking does indeed give us an opportunity to reflect on these things. I look forward to hiking Old Rag…
Ooooph! This spoke to my soul today, this summer. After a good long spell of being extremely busy, I am still behaving as if I have no time to lose, and y’all better get out of my way, because Mama has stuff to get done!! When, in reality, I have plenty of time to slow down. Thank you for this reflection. It also reminds me of a James Herriot chapter in which, on one of his farm visits, he observes the farmer striding across his property with a particularly long, slow, even tread. The farmer then goes on to explain to James why it is that he, the farmer, has only been to a city once, because he did not like walking with “big steps, and little ‘uns, big steps, and little ‘uns,” the way we hurry about in cities.
I love that James Herriot story! I’m going to keep working on my stride! Thanks so much for this, Elizabeth.
A wonderful reminder, as your weekly meditations always are. Even better, you worked in Alabama!
Being fully present instead of rushing from one task to the next is one of my greatest struggles. I love your focus here on something tangible: picking your stride to focus on. It’s a change we can make, quite literally, one step at a time.
As a wise woman I know once told me, “It’s impossible to be kind when you’re in a rush.”