There is nothing that strengthens a nation like reading of a nation's own history, whether that history is recorded in read more

There is nothing that strengthens a nation like reading of a nation's own history, whether that history is recorded in books or embodied in customs, institutions and monuments.

Custom is the great guide to human life

Custom is the great guide to human life

Take the course opposite to custom and you will almost always do well.

Take the course opposite to custom and you will almost always do well.

Men commonly think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and imbibed opinions, but generally act according to read more

Men commonly think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and imbibed opinions, but generally act according to custom.

Ancient custom has the force of law.

Ancient custom has the force of law.

Men will sooner surrender their rights than their customs.

Men will sooner surrender their rights than their customs.

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.

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.

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.