However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act on upon them?
Holy words, good philosophy can lift our thoughts and inspire us to ‘change our mind’. This not only makes us feel better but in effect changes our destiny as we act in new ways:
Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny. Tryon Edwards
To learn new habits is everything, for it is to reach the substance of life. Life is but a tissue of habits. Henri-Frederic Amel
As I researched what others have said about habit, I realised the significance and power, the very great significance and the very great power, that habit has over our lives.
Habit is stronger than nature. Quintus Curtius Rufus
Habit is second nature, or rather, ten times nature. William James
Habit is the deepest law of human nature. Thomas Carlyle
Habit is stronger than reason. George Santayana
Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters. Nathaniel Emmons
Habit is the most imperious of all masters. Goethe
Habit is necessary to give power. William Hazlitt
But we hardly ever consciously realise the power of habit, still less consciously use habit to our advantage. Not only can good habits be formed as a ‘by-product’ of being inspired, but we can consciously, knowingly choose to ingrain a good characteristic and hence a destiny through repeated acts, through choosing to adopt an appropriate habit:
Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts. Aristotle
Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way. Aristotle
Acts of virtue ripen into habits; and the goodly and permanent result is the formation or establishment of a virtuous character. Thomas Chalmers
And when through ignorance or lack of awareness we do not choose our habits, when we let habits form willy-nilly, then we relinquish control of our characters and our lives to forces within and without more or less favourable to our cause:
In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Thus, the first law I will obey, which precedes all others, is - I will form good habits and become their slaves. Og Mandino
Man becomes a slave to his constantly repeated acts. What he at first chooses, at last compels. Orison Swett Marden
So, do we consciously choose to our habit so that it becomes our servant or do we unconsciously let our habit form as it will so that it becomes our master?
Habit, if wisely and skilfully formed, becomes truly a second nature; but unskilfully and unmethodically depicted, it will be as it were an ape of nature, which imitates nothing to the life, but only clumsily and awkwardly. Francis Bacon
Cultivate only the habits that you are willing should master you. Elbert Hubbard
A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit. Desiderius Erasmus
Habits are the daughters of action; but they nurse their mothers, and give birth to daughters after her image, more lovely and prosperous. Jeremy Taylor
When you choose a habit, you also choose the end (destiny) of that habit. Zig Ziglar
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Photo by Magyar Balazs from Wikimedia: Aikido ‘four direction throw’ with standing attacker and seated defender
5 comments:
Personally, I think all types of philosophical discussion can lead to new habits. How we each view the world greatly impacts how we act in it. If a person has a negative worldview, then the majority of their actions will be negative. Conversely, if a person has a positive worldview, then the majority of their actions will be positive.
Thus, from my point of view, both practical philosophy and more esoteric philosophy play a role in how we interact with the world.
Yes, what you say is true. We are never the same person we were yesterday and discussion can lead to great insight. But Aristotle's comments were a bit of a revelation to me in that they constitute as it were a blueprint or a tool for character building. He puts responsability for our characters decisively in our own hands. This is the kind of 'nuts and bolts' philosophy I am talking about.
Thank you for the link my friend. I shall return you the favour. How did you fall on my site?
I routinely search for blogs that talk about Taoism & Taoist principles as well as Buddhism and non-mainstream thought. As we all seem to be in the minority, we form a loose-knit community...even if we're not aware of each other. :-)
Since I believe that none of us has all the "answers", I try to collect links to put on my blog so others can utilize many of the same inspirational tools. Every voice added only deepens the colorful tapestry of thought and insight.
I've been following your blog but just clicked on the sidebar link to this post. Marvelous!
Thank you Lydia, glad you liked it. Why not send it to your friends or even Stumble it.
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