The habits of the household, and the child's habits in it must be absolutely fixed if they are to be of any value. Amiel truly says that habits are principles which have become instincts, and have passed over into flesh and blood. To change habits, he continues, means to attack life in its very essence, for life is only a web of habits.英文原著 · 《The Education of the Child》
The man who makes it the habit of his life to go to bed at nine o'clock, usually gets rich and is always reliable. Of course, going to bed does not make him rich--I merely mean that such a man will in all probability be up early in the morning and do a big day's work, so his weary bones put him to bed early. Rogues do their work at night. Honest men work by day. It's all a matter of habit, and good habits in America make any man rich. Wealth is a result of habit. --JOHN JACOB ASTOR英文原著 · 《John Jacob Astor》
Another thing is the necessity of guarding against letting children read too much, or too entirely along one line. There is a habit of reading along lines which deaden, instead of stimulating, thought, and the habit, if carried to excess, becomes a mental dissipation which is utterly reprehensible; but the pathway to this habit is entered upon so innocently and unconsciously by the story-loving child that he (perhaps more often she) must be guided very tenderly and wisely past its dangers; the library which ignores this necessity may have much harm laid at its doors.英文原著 · 《Library Work with Children》
I live to please myself; not you, Mr. Dandy, with your supercilious airs. I am a philosopher. Perhaps I live in my tub, and don't make any other use of it--. We won't pursue further this unsavory metaphor; but, with regard to some of your old habits let us say-- 1. The habit of being censorious, and speaking ill of your neighbors. The habit of getting into a passion with your man-servant, your maid-servant, your daughter, wife, &c. The habit of indulging too much at table.英文原著 · 《Roundabout Papers》
This gentleman's second daughter also shrugged her shoulders before the age of eighteen months, and afterwards discontinued the habit. It is of course possible that she may have imitated her elder sister; but she continued it after her sister had lost the habit. She at first resembled her Parisian grandfather in a less degree than did her sister at the same age, but now in a greater degree. She likewise practises to the present time the peculiar habit of rubbing together, when impatient, her thumb and two of her fore-fingers.英文原著 · 《The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals》
Adam Smith notices the bad effects of high profits on the habits of the capitalist. They may perhaps sometimes occasion extravagance; but generally, I should say, that extravagant habits were a more frequent cause of a scarcity of capital and high profits, than high profits of extravagant habits.英文原著 · 《The Nature of Rent》
Into planting its -- into spreading its genes, giving it a little bit more habitat. into planting its -- into spreading its genes, giving it a little bit more habitat.演讲 · 《A plant's-eye view ~ Michael Pollan》
It means sort of the habits, institutions of people -- it's impossible. it means sort of the habits, institutions of people -- it's impossible.演讲 · 《Nature vs. humans ~ Paul MacCready》