# Heraclitus — Nicomachean Ethics character guide

> Heraclitus in Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0003-book-i

## Who they are

Pre-Socratic philosopher referenced on change and flux.

## Relationships

### [Euripides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters/euripides)

_social_

Both are pre-Socratic philosophers and tragedians referenced in Aristotle's ethical discussions.

## In the story

### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/book-ii)

Cited for the saying that fighting with wrath is hard, used to illustrate that fighting with pleasure is harder.

### [Moral Virtue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/moral-virtue)

Referenced for the idea that fighting with pleasure is harder than fighting with wrath.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned in the context that fighting with pleasure is harder than fighting with wrath.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/iii)

Cited as an example of someone with strong belief in opinion, comparable to knowledge.

### [Book VIII: Friendship or Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/book-viii)

Cited for the idea that opposites fit together and that harmony comes from discord.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned for the idea that opposites fit together and harmony arises from discord.

### [Book X: Pleasure and the Contemplative Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/book-x)

Alluded to in the discussion of the flux of pleasure and the importance of stable pleasures.

### [Chapter V: Pleasures, Activities, and the Good Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/v)

Cited for the observation that a donkey prefers hay to gold, illustrating that different beings have different proper pleasures.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters/heraclitus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters