ProverbHuman Nature
American origin1926
American origin1926We are what we repeatedly do
Meaning: Character and identity are shaped not by occasional acts but by consistent daily habits.
Origin: Often quoted as Aristotle's, but the words are Will Durant's, from The Story of Philosophy (1926), summing up Aristotle's view of virtue in the Nicomachean Ethics: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Equivalents in German
German: Gewohnheit ist die zweite Natur (literally: Habit is the second nature)
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
- Oldtimer Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.
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