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We are what we repeatedly do

Meaning: Character and identity are shaped not by occasional acts but by consistent daily habits.

Origin: Attributed to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, later popularized by Will Durant's interpretation.

Translations

  • French: Nous sommes ce que nous faisons de façon répétée (literally: We are what we do repeatedly)
  • Spanish: Somos lo que hacemos repetidamente (literally: We are what we do repeatedly)
  • Japanese: 私たちは繰り返し行うことのものだ (Watashitachi wa kurikaeshi okonau koto no mono da) (literally: We are what we repeatedly do)

More proverbs about Human Nature

  • Rain does not fall on one roof alone — Hardship and misfortune are universal; no single person suffers alone.
  • You can't see the forest for the trees — Being too focused on small details can prevent you from seeing the overall picture.
  • The wolf changes his coat but not his character — Surface appearances can change, but a person's fundamental nature remains the same.
  • Not all who wander are lost — Those who explore unconventional paths may have a deeper sense of direction than it appea…
  • Every person is a mirror to another — We see our own nature reflected in how we treat others and how others respond to us.
  • A man's home is his castle — What more sacred, what more strongly guarded by every holy feeling, than a man's own home…

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