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“It is useful to know something of the manners of different nations, that we may be enabled to form a more correct judgment regarding our own, and be prevented from thinking that everything contrary to our customs is ridiculous and irrational, a...” René Descartes, “Discourse on the Method” - 1637

“So true is it that unnatural generally means only uncustomary, and that everything which is usual appears natural.” John Stuart Mill, “The Subjection of Women” - 1869

“Often, the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it.” Mark Twain, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” - 1876

“It is computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end.” Jonathan Swift, “Gulliver's Travels” - 1726

“Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice to change true rules for odd inventions.” William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew” - 1623

“Custom, then, is the great guide of human life.” David Hume, “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding” - 1748

“Hobbits really are amazing creatures, as I have said before. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.” J. R. R. Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring” - 1954

“Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom.” Bertrand Russell, “The Problems of Philosophy” - 1912

“Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a...” Thomas Paine, “Common Sense” - 1776

“The anaesthetic effect of custom being destroyed, I would begin to think and to feel very melancholy things.” Marcel Proust, “Swann's Way” - 1913

Related topics

tradition death life doubt appearance invention philosophy experience wrong judgement melancholy guide eggs surprise naturality

Related authors

William Shakespeare (1)
Mark Twain (1)
David Hume (1)
Bertrand Russell (1)
Jonathan Swift (1)
John Stuart Mill (1)
René Descartes (1)
Thomas Paine (1)
J. R. R. Tolkien (1)
Marcel Proust (1)

Related sources

The Taming of the Shrew (1)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1)
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1)
Gulliver's Travels (1)
The Subjection of Women (1)
Discourse on the Method (1)
Common Sense (1)
Swann's Way (1)
The Fellowship of the Ring (1)
The Problems of Philosophy (1)