ProverbHuman NatureGerman origin

Gewohnheit ist die zweite Natur

Meaning: Habits become as strong as instincts.

Literally: Habit is the second nature

Example: “Er steht jeden Tag um fünf auf, auch am Wochenende. Gewohnheit ist die zweite Natur.” — He gets up at five every day, even at weekends: habit is second nature.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 6 more languages

  • English: Custom is second nature.
  • French: L'habitude est une seconde nature (literally: Habit is a second nature)
  • Spanish: La costumbre es otra naturaleza (literally: Custom is second nature)
  • Japanese: 習い性となる (Narai sei to naru) (literally: What is practiced becomes one's nature)
  • Italian: L’abito è una seconda natura (literally: Custom is second nature)
  • Portuguese: O hábito é uma segunda natureza (literally: Habit is a second nature)
  • Dutch: De gewoonte is een tweede natuur (literally: Habit is a second nature)
  • Russian: Привычка — вторая натура (Privychka — vtoraya natura) (literally: Habit is second nature)
  • Polish: Przyzwyczajenie jest drugą naturą (literally: Habit is second nature)
  • Chinese: 习惯成自然 (Xíguàn chéng zìrán) (literally: Habit becomes nature)
  • Turkish: Alışmış kudurmuştan beterdir (literally: Someone used to a thing is worse than someone gone mad)

Origin: Cicero writes in De finibus that habit creates a kind of second nature.

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