The serious exercises of life are better than the comic, because they proceed from the better part of man.

The slave may enjoy bodily pleasures to the full, but a slave is not called happy (VI.).
We have thus shown that Happiness consists in exercise or actual living according to excellence; naturally, therefore, according to the highest excellence, or the excellence of the best part of man.

This best part is the Intellect (_Nous_), our most divine and commanding element; in its exercise, which is theoretical or speculative, having respect to matters honourable, divine, and most worthy of study.

Such philosophical exercise, besides being the highest function of our nature, is at the same time more susceptible than any mode of active effort, of being prosecuted for a long continuance.

It affords the purest and most lasting pleasure; it approaches most nearly to being self-sufficing, since it postulates little more than the necessaries of life, and is even independent of society, though better _with_ society.
Perfect happiness would thus be the exercise of the theorizing intellect, continued through a full period of life.