Custom doth make dotards of us all.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The empire of custom is most mighty.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The way of the world is to make laws, but follow customs.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Nothing is more powerful than habit.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
People do more from custom than from reason.
—Unknown
Immemorial custom is transcendent law.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Be not so bigoted to any custom as to worship it at the expense of truth.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–95) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
In this great society wide lying around us, a critical analysis would find very few spontaneous actions. It is almost all custom and gross sense.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The despotism of custom is everywhere the standing hindrance to human advancement.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
Often, the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The custom and fashion of today will be the awkwardness and outrage of tomorrow — so arbitrary are these transient laws.
—Alexandre Dumas pere (1802–1870) French Novelist, Playwright
Custom is the universal sovereign.
—Pindar (c.518–c.438 BCE) Greek Lyric Poet
New customs, though they be never so ridiculous, nay, let them be unmanly, yet are followed.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Custom, then, is the great guide to human life.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
There is no tyrant like custom, and no freedom where its edicts are not resisted.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Custom is a tyrant.
—Common Proverb
Choose always the way that seems best, however rough it may be, and custom will soon render it easy and agreeable.
—Pythagoras (570–495 BCE) Greek Philosopher
As the world leads, we follow.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Laws are subordinate to custom.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find my way across the room.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
To follow foolish precedents, and wink with both our eyes, is easier than to think.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
A crime persevered in a thousand centuries ceases to be a crime, and becomes a virtue. This is the law of custom, and custom supersedes all other forms of law.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Nature is seldom in the wrong, custom always.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
Of course poets have morals and manners of their own, and custom is no argument with them.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
The despotism of custom is on the wane. We are not content to know that things are; we ask whether they ought to be.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
Man yields to custom, as he bows to fate—in all things ruled, mind, body, and estate.
—George Crabbe
Custom is the law of one description of fools, and fashion of another; but the two parties often clash, for precedent is the legislator of the first, and novelty of the last.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
There are not unfrequently substantial reasons underneath for customs that appear to us absurd.
—Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855) English Novelist, Poet
Custom reconciles us to everything.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Customs and convictions change; respectable people are the last to know, or to admit, the change, and the ones most offended by fresh reflections of the facts in the mirror of art.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
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