We 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 French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- 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)
- German: Gewohnheit ist die zweite Natur (literally: Habit is the second nature)
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 — A person's home is their private domain, which no one may enter or interfere with without…
From our false friends
- 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.