In idling, the motor's running, but you're letting your mind take in anything. Things pop into it. Those are the gifts of subterranean conscious.
Mortimer AdlerRead
Habits are formed by the repetition of particular acts. They are strengthened by an increase in the number of repeated acts. Habits are also weakened or broken, and contrary habits are formed by the repetition of contrary acts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Habits develop through consistent actions and can be changed by altering those actions.
Mortimer Adler highlights the importance of habits in shaping our lives. He explains that habits are created by the repeated execution of certain behaviors, and emphasizes that with enough repetition, these habits can become stronger. Conversely, he notes that bad habits can be diminished or replaced by consciously engaging in contrasting behaviors. This insight reminds us of the power of choice and consistency in our daily lives.
Themes
HabitsRepetitionActsChangeBehavior
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on personal development, you might cite this quote to illustrate the power of habit formation.
More from Mortimer Adler
All quotes →The only standard we have for judging all of our social, economic, and political institutions and arrangements as just or unjust, as good or bad, as better or worse, derives from our conception of the good life for man on earth, and from our conviction that, given certain external conditions, it is possible for men to make good lives for themselves by their own efforts.
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A good book can teach you about the world and about yourself. You learn more than how to read better; you also learn more about life. You become wiser.
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If you are reading in order to become a better reader, you cannot read just any book or article. You will not improve as a reader if all you read are books that are well within your capacity. You must tackle books that are beyond you, or, as we have said, books that are over your head. Only books of that sort will make you stretch your mind. And unless you stretch, you will not learn.
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In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you.
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If your friend wishes to read your 'Plutarch's Lives,' 'Shakespeare,' or 'The Federalist Papers,' tell him gently but firmly, to buy a copy. You will lend him your car or your coat - but your books are as much a part of you as your head or your heart.
Mortimer AdlerRead
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