How seldom is generosity perfect and pure! How often do men give because it throws a certain inferiority on those who receive, and superiority on themselves!
Habit is the cement of society, the comfort of life, and, alas! The root of error.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Habits shape our society and daily lives, but they can also lead us astray.
This quote by Fulke Greville reflects on the dual nature of habits. On one hand, they provide stability and comfort, forming the foundation upon which society is built. On the other hand, habitual behaviors can also lead to mistakes or errors in judgment, suggesting that while routines can be beneficial, they can also blind us to new perspectives and possibilities. It emphasizes the importance of being aware of our habits to avoid stagnation and to foster growth.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech on self-improvement, one may quote this to emphasize the importance of being mindful about habits.
More from Fulke Greville, 1St Baron Brooke
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Two simple principles lie at the bottom of the whole matter, and they may be precipitated into two rules. The first is that, when there is a choice, the milder drink is always the better-not merely the safer but the better. The second is that no really enlightened drinker ever takes a drink at a time when he has any work to do. There is, of course, more to it than this; but these are sufficient for the beginner, and even the virtuoso never outgrows them.
A crowd, whether it be a dangerous mob, or an amiably joyous gathering at a picnic is not a community. It has a mind, but no institutions, no organizations, no coherent unity, no history, no traditions.
The man who meets with a failure attributes this failure rather to the ill will of another than to fate.
From the very beginning, existentialism defined itself as a philosophy of ambiguity.
Not to be born is undoubtedly the best plan of all. Unfortunately, it is within no one's reach.
Physicians think they are doing something for you by labeling what you have as a disease