Author's Note 49
Habit owes its charm to man's natural
idleness, and this idleness grows upon us if indulged; it is easier
to do what we have already done, there is a beaten path which is
easily followed. Thus we may observe that habit is very strong in
the aged and in the indolent, and very weak in the young and active.
The rule of habit is only good for feeble hearts, and it makes them
more and more feeble day by day. The only useful habit for children
is to be accustomed to submit without difficulty to necessity, and
the only useful habit for man is to submit without difficulty to the
rule of reason. Every other habit is a vice.