Aristotle on the roles of virtue and fortune

“Those fortunes that turn out in the contrary way restrict and even ruin one’s blessedness, for they both inflict pains and impede many activities.

Nevertheless, even in the midst of these, nobility shines through, whenever someone bears up calmly under many great misfortunes, not because of any insensitivity to pain but because he is wellborn and great souled. …

For we suppose that someone who is truly good and sensible bears up under all fortunes in a becoming way and always does what is noblest...