Through books one through three of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle distinguishes between pain and happiness, clarifying the endless war that men face on the path to these two extremes. Man's quest for pleasure is considered by the self-conscious and rational Aristotle; a view traditionally refuted in contemporary secular environments. Immediately, Aristotle alleges that all actions aim at the good, thus proposing that all human activity must be of some good. These activities attempt to achieve a greater goal; a primary good met by subordinate desires. However, Aristotle introduces that the nature of the good is presumed by convention, not by nature, and that it is administered by politics. Governments determine what sciences and arts are studied, who studies them, and to what extent. Aristotle admits that there is agreement that this primary good is happiness, but that there is disagreement with the definition of happiness. Because of this argument, men divide the good into three important types of life: pleasure, politics, and contemplation. Most men are fascinated by pleasure; a life worthy of “beasts”. Elite (political) life distinguishes happiness from honor, but this is absurd given that honor is attributed from without and happiness comes from within oneself. The attractive life of earning money is quickly ruled out by Aristotle, because wealth is not what the good man seeks, since it is only useful for the happiness of something else. The ultimate end is what the masses yearn for. Aristotle suggests that this universal good be understood before continuing. All actions must build on each other in order to achieve this good; an end that is chosen for its own sake, we "choose [happiness] for its...... middle of paper...well, the ignorant." Thus, to be courageous is to “possess excellence in its totality and the happier he is, the more pained he will be at the idea of ​​death” (403). Aristotle then moves on to comment on temperance; the happy medium between the extremes of pleasure. The indulgent man would crave excess animal pleasure, extravagance and dissipation. However, those who are temperate care moderately about pain. In the conclusion of his third book, Aristotle considers that complacency is the vice more voluntarily chosen than cowardice, since intemperance seeks pleasure, while the latter avoids pain; which can disrupt a person's choice. He compares intemperance to childish actions; just as the child needs education, the desiring soul must be nourished by a rational mind. Man's desire without the presence of the rational mind can become dangerously unquenchable.