Definitions HQ

Habit (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠nothing but one of the principles of nature, and derives all its force from that origin.

Habit (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠subjective necessity disguised as objective necessity — what the mind feels it must expect, mistaken for what it sees must be.

Habit (n.) reforms ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the mind: keep a course of sobriety and you will hate riot; keep to business and idleness will feel like a punishment.

Habit (n.) spreads ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠to whatever resembles its object: the man used to pears makes do with melons, and the drunkard made on red wine is carried almost as violently to white.

Habit (n.) consolidates ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠what other principles of nature founded imperfectly: once accustomed to obedience, men never think of leaving the path their ancestors trod.

Habit (n.) hides ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the reasons for our virtues: the views most familiar to us escape us for that very reason, and we go on blaming injustice mechanically without recalling why.