Custom has furnished the only basis which ethics have ever had.

Custom has furnished the only basis which ethics have ever had.

Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb.

Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb.

The customs and fashions of men change like leaves on the bough, some of which go and others come.

The customs and fashions of men change like leaves on the bough, some of which go and others come.

Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its read more

Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its beauties and cruelties; it accepts certain sufferings as matters of course, puts up patiently with certain evils. Human life is reduced to real suffering, to hell, only when two ages, two cultures and religions overlap.

No man ever looks at the world with pristine eyes. He sees it edited by a definite set of customs read more

No man ever looks at the world with pristine eyes. He sees it edited by a definite set of customs and institutions and ways of thinking.

Ancient custom has the force of law.

Ancient custom has the force of law.

There is no tyrant like custom, and no freedom where its edicts are not resisted.

There is no tyrant like custom, and no freedom where its edicts are not resisted.

Custom governs the world; it is the tyrant of our feeling and our manners, and rules us with the imperious read more

Custom governs the world; it is the tyrant of our feeling and our manners, and rules us with the imperious hand of a despot

We do everything by custom, even believe by it; our very axioms, let us boast of free-thinking as we may, read more

We do everything by custom, even believe by it; our very axioms, let us boast of free-thinking as we may, are oftenest simply such beliefs as we have never heard questioned.