for nothing that exists by nature can form a habit contrary to its nature.
 Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (c. 334 BC - 330 BC). copy citation

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Author Aristotle
Source Nicomachean Ethics
Topic contrary habit
Date c. 334 BC - 330 BC
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by W. D. Ross
Weblink http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.mb.txt

Context

“, while moral virtue comes about as a result of habit, whence also its name (ethike) is one that is formed by a slight variation from the word ethos (habit) . From this it is also plain that none of the moral virtues arises in us by nature; for nothing that exists by nature can form a habit contrary to its nature. For instance the stone which by nature moves downwards cannot be habituated to move upwards, not even if one tries to train it by throwing it up ten thousand times; nor can fire be habituated to move downwards, nor can anything else that by nature behaves in one way be trained to behave in another.” source