Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs one step at a time.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Custom may lead a man into many errors, but it justifies none.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
The chains of habit are generally too weak to be felt, until they are too strong to be broken.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The diligent fostering of a candid habit of mind, even in trifles, is a matter of high moment both to character and opinions.
—John Saul Howson
Habit is a man’s sole comfort. We dislike doing without even unpleasant things to which we have become accustomed.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Trivial things do matter… more people are killed each year by the bite of mosquitoes than are stepped upon by charging elephants.
—Unknown
There is no pleasure in life equal to that of the conquest of a vicious habit.
—Unknown
Certes, they been lye to hounds, for an hound when he cometh by the roses, or by other bushes, though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heve up his leg and make a countenance to pisse.
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) English Poet, Philosopher, Diplomat, Bureaucrat
Curious things, habits. People themselves never knew they had them.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
As a twig is bent the tree inclines.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Good habits result from resisting temptation.
—Common Proverb
In any family, measles are less contagious than bad habits.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Habit is a second nature that destroys the first. But what is nature? Why is habit not natural? I am very much afraid that nature itself is only a first habit, just as habit is a second nature.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
To fall into a habit is to begin to cease to be.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Great is the power of habit. It teaches us to bear fatigue and to despise wounds and pain.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Habit is stronger than reason.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Man is occasionally what he should be perpetually.
—Unknown
Habit is a cable.—We weave a thread of it every day, and at last we cannot break it.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Good habits are formed; bad habits we fall into.
—Unknown
Since custom is the principal magistrate of man is life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
In early childhood you may lay the foundation of poverty or riches, industry of idleness, good or evil, by the habits to which you train your children. Teach them right habits then, and their future life is safe.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know because I’ve done it a thousand times.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing.
—Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) French Poet, Playwright, Film Director