--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A habit cannot be tossed out the window…" description: "\"A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg" --- # A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed… ![“A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg) > “A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Habits require gradual, consistent effort to change; abrupt removal fails. **In simple terms:** Change habits step by step Key Takeaway Implement incremental change Themes habit formation behavioral change patience Mood motivational practical Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - daily routines - self‑improvement - goal setting Key Concepts psychology of habit behavioral science Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today? - How do you sustain new habits? A Different Perspective Old patterns may resurface without reinforcement ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coaxed Stairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaxed-stairs-4747827/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Tossed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-tossed-5049603/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Stairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stairs/) [Stairs Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stairs-step-277015/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed down-stairs one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/habit-is-habit-and-not-to-be-flung-out-of-the-window-by-any-man-but-3/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Tis no good looking up the stairs, One step at a time and you will get there, Hop skip miss a step, You will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baytrees-bark/tis-no-good-looking-up-the-stairs-one-step-at-a-time-and-you-will-get/) [Baytrees Bark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baytrees-bark/) > [The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-girard/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-you-ll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Joe Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-girard/) > [“All of us are like stairs, one step after another, going up and down, but all going the same way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/all-of-us-are-like-stairs-one-step-after-another-going-up-and-down/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-the-stairs-one-step-at-time/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [If you push your brother down the stairs, he will become your step brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-you-push-your-brother-down-the-stairs-he-will-become-your-step/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [The elevator to success is out of order. Youll have to use the stairs ¦ one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-youll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [“Some of us are like stairs, one step after another, going up and down, but all going the same way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/some-of-us-are-like-stairs-one-step-after-another-going-up-and-down/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [When you're going up the stairs and you take a step, kick the other leg up high behind you to keep people from following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-re-going-up-the-stairs-and-you-take-a-step-kick-the-other/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-curious-thing-the-death-of-a-loved-one-we-all-know-that-our-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Two things are bad for the heart - running up stairs and running down people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/two-things-are-bad-for-the-heart-running-up-stairs-and-running-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That mini heart attack you get when you're casually walking down the stairs, then you miss one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-mini-heart-attack-you-get-when-you-re-casually-walking-down-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fading, fading: strength beyond hope and despair climbing the third stair. Lord, I am not worthy Lord, I am not worthy but speak the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fading-fading-strength-beyond-hope-and-despair-climbing-the-third/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That moment when you miss one step on the stairs, and you think you're about to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-moment-when-you-miss-one-step-on-the-stairs-and-you-think-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jumping from the last few stairs feeling really good about yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-from-the-last-few-stairs-feeling-really-good-about-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Habit quotes > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“A lot of habitually creative people have preparation rituals linked to the setting in which they choose to start their day. By putting themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/a-lot-of-habitually-creative-people-have-preparation-rituals-linked/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Habits form and habits grow, Then some time later, habits go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-rajarshi-mukhopadhyay/habits-form-and-habits-grow-then-some-time-later-habits-go/) [Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-rajarshi-mukhopadhyay/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [I feel that between my experience and my mother's, breast cancer is a little bit like someone who lives next door. I know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/i-feel-that-between-my-experience-and-my-mother-s-breast-cancer-is-a/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [Thirty days is just about the right amount of time to add a new habit or subtract a habit - like watching the news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cutts/thirty-days-is-just-about-the-right-amount-of-time-to-add-a-new-habit/) [Matt Cutts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cutts/) > [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [There are two sorts of content; one is connected with exertion, the other with habits of indolence. The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [The DMK and the Communists may have the habit of lying, but I don't come from a family that lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamilisai-soundararajan/the-dmk-and-the-communists-may-have-the-habit-of-lying-but-i-don-t/) [Tamilisai Soundararajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamilisai-soundararajan/) > [Lust indulged became habit, and habit unresisted became necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/lust-indulged-became-habit-and-habit-unresisted-became-necessity/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [I don't analyze what I'm doing. I've read convincing interpretations of my work, and sometimes I've noticed something that I wasn't aware of, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-don-t-analyze-what-i-m-doing-i-ve-read-convincing-interpretations/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) [Browse all 4,726 Habit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window-it-must-be-coaxed-down-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Habit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window-it-must-be-coaxed-down-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/anonymous-1_habit_a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window_3047010.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A habit cannot be tossed out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window-it-must-be-coaxed-down-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-habit-cannot-be-tossed-out-the-window-it-must-be-coaxed-down-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```