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[*] 97. The distinction between the present and aorist infinitive is well illustrated by Aristotle, when he says of pleasure, Nic. Eth. x. 3. 4 “ἡσθῆναι μὲν γὰρ ἔστι ταχέως ὥσπερ ὀργισθῆναι, ἥδεσθαι δ᾽ οὒ, οὐδὲ πρὸς ἕτερον: βαδίζειν, δὲ καὶ αὔξεσθαι καὶ πάντα τὰ τοιαῦτα. μεταβάλλειν μὲν οὖν εἰς τὴν ἡδονὴν ταχέως καὶ βραδέως ἔστιν, ἐνεργεῖν δὲ κατ᾽ αὐτὴν οὐκ ἔστι ταχέως, λέγω δ᾽ ἥδεσθαι” . We may BECOME pleased (ἡσθῆναι) quickly, as we may get angry quickly; but we cannot BE pleased (ἥδεσθαι) quickly, even as compared with another person, although we can thus walk and grow and do such things. We may then change into a state of pleasure quickly or slowly, but we cannot actually enjoy the pleasure, I mean BE PLEASED (ἥδεσθαι), quickly. So in PLAT. Theaet. 155 C, Socrates says, ἄνευ τοῦ γίγνεσθαι γενέσθαι ἀδύνατον (sc. ἐμὲ ἐλάττω), i.e. without going through the process of becoming (γίγνεσθαι) smaller, it is impossible for me to get (γενέσθαι） smaller.
Macmillan. London, Melbourne, Toronto. 1889. reprint edition:. St. Martin's Press. New York. 1965.
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