Character and Conduct – 20 May – Habit

LIKE flakes of snow that fall unperceived upon the earth, the seemingly unimportant events of life succeed one another.   As the snow gathers together, so are our habits formed:  no single flake that is added to the pile produces a sensible change;  no single flake creates, however it may exhibit, a man’s character;  but as the tempest hurls the avalanche down the mountain, and overwhelms the inhabitant and his habitation, so passion, acting upon the elements of mischief, which pernicious habits have brought together by imperceptible accumulation, may overwhelm the edifice of truth and virtue.

JEREMY BENTHAM

IN the conduct of life, habits count for more than maxims, because habit is a living maxim, become flesh and instinct.   To reform one’s maxims is nothing:  it is but to change the title of the book.   To learn new habits is everything, for it is to reach the substance of life.   Life is but a tissue of habits.

Amiel’s Journal

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These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing the her readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.