ABSTRACT
Habit is a term to conjure by. It has been the theme of orators and essayists, lecturers and preachers. James in his famous chapter makes it society’s “most precious conservative agent,” and for the individual the “spinning our own fates, good or evil, and never to be undone.” Rousseau inveighed against it, saying that Emile should be so educated as to “form no habits—except the habit of forming no habits.” We excuse our shortcomings by pleading an unfortunate habit. Too often the emphasis is laid on bad habits and we are urged not to become the slaves of habit.
