--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be too quickTo break bad habits…" description: "\"Don't be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.\" — Bret Harte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg" --- # Don't be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like… ![“Don't be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.” quote by Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg) > “Don't be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.” [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Breaking habits requires deliberate effort; impulsive attempts often fail, so persistence is key. **In simple terms:** Changing habits needs steady effort, not rash actions. Key Takeaway Persistently work on habits. Themes self‑discipline habit change perseverance Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - personal development - health improvement - skill learning - daily routines Key Concepts behavioral psychology willpower Questions to Reflect On - What habit have you tried to change impulsively? - How can you build a supportive environment? A Different Perspective Quick fixes may ignore underlying triggers, leading to relapse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arsenic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arsenic/) [Bad habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) [Bad habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habits/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) ## Related quotes > [“It's better than a stick in your eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-gaston/it-s-better-than-a-stick-in-your-eye/) R. Gaston > [Being curvy is better than being stick thin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-curvy-is-better-than-being-stick-thin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“it's better than a stick in the eye”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/it-s-better-than-a-stick-in-the-eye/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [Whether we win 60 games or not, you build your habits back and get better that way. It may not be 60 wins, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/whether-we-win-60-games-or-not-you-build-your-habits-back-and-get/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [“So, what does it take to live a more excellent life? It takes a new way of thinking, speaking and acting. It takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/so-what-does-it-take-to-live-a-more-excellent-life-it-takes-a-new-way/) [J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/) > [No matter who you are, we're creatures of habit. The better your habits are, the better they will be in pressure situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/no-matter-who-you-are-we-re-creatures-of-habit-the-better-your-habits/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Beware of your habits. The better they are the more surely they will be your undoing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/beware-of-your-habits-the-better-they-are-the-more-surely-they-will/) [Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/) > [Virtually everything we do in life is a matter of habit. Habits make us who we are. Why not change your habits to better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/virtually-everything-we-do-in-life-is-a-matter-of-habit-habits-make/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [Five Great Habits for Better Relationships: acceptance (smile each time), appreciation (say thank you to everyone), admiration (compliment people on their appearance or clothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/five-great-habits-for-better-relationships-acceptance-smile-each-time/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“The spirit of those around you will stick to you like glue. Be careful of wrong associations and what you allow to cling to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-houston/the-spirit-of-those-around-you-will-stick-to-you-like-glue-be-careful/) [Brian Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-houston/) > [“Until this concludes we have to stick together like summer underwear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-matthews/until-this-concludes-we-have-to-stick-together-like-summer-underwear/) [Jason Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-matthews/) > [You must find the note, the correct key, for your story. If you find it, everything will work. If you do not, everything will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-malle/you-must-find-the-note-the-correct-key-for-your-story-if-you-find-it/) [Louis Malle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-malle/) > [&you know; we gotta stick together like a unibrow ... <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/you-know-we-gotta-stick-together-like-a-unibrow-3/) [Kid Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [These bits of poetry that stick to her like burrs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-offill/these-bits-of-poetry-that-stick-to-her-like-burrs/) [Jenny Offill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-offill/) > [He planned to stick to her like pasties on a stripper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/he-planned-to-stick-to-her-like-pasties-on-a-stripper/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) ## More by Bret Harte > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [“Nellie was a good girl, and I think had a sort of quiet respect for old Fagg's unobtrusiveness. But her fancy was already taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/nellie-was-a-good-girl-and-i-think-had-a-sort-of-quiet-respect-for/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Perhaps there is no gift of nature that requires as little exertion on the part of the owner as personal beauty. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/perhaps-there-is-no-gift-of-nature-that-requires-as-little-exertion/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Howbeit, though no scholar, I am not one of those who misuse the English speech, and, being foolishly led by the hasty custom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/howbeit-though-no-scholar-i-am-not-one-of-those-who-misuse-the/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [“Tommy, you're a good little man, but you can't gamble worth a cent. Don't try it over again.' He then handed him his money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/tommy-you-re-a-good-little-man-but-you-can-t-gamble-worth-a-cent-don/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [“I've had some mighty mean moments afore I kem to this spot,-- Lost on the plains in '50, drowned almost, and shot; But out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/i-ve-had-some-mighty-mean-moments-afore-i-kem-to-this-spot-lost-on/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [But, when the goddess' work is done,The woman's still remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/but-when-the-goddess-work-is-done-the-woman-s-still-remains/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [The delicate thought, that cannot find expression, For ruder speech too fair, That, like thy petals, trembles in possession, And scatters on the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/the-delicate-thought-that-cannot-find-expression-for-ruder-speech-too/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [“There was, I think, a prevailing impression common to the provincial mind, that his misfortune was the result of the defective moral quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/there-was-i-think-a-prevailing-impression-common-to-the-provincial/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Your voices break and falter in the darkness, Break, falter, and are still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/your-voices-break-and-falter-in-the-darkness-break-falter-and-are/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Each lost day has its patron saint!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/each-lost-day-has-its-patron-saint/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [We begin to die as soon as we are born, and the end is linked to the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/we-begin-to-die-as-soon-as-we-are-born-and-the-end-is-linked-to-the/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [When folks find I ain't afeard to speak my mind on their affairs, they kinder guess I'm tellin' the truth about my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/when-folks-find-i-ain-t-afeard-to-speak-my-mind-on-their-affairs-they/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [It would seem evident, therefore, that the secret of the American short story was the treatment of characteristic American life, with absolute knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/it-would-seem-evident-therefore-that-the-secret-of-the-american-short/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [Never a tear bedims the eye that time and patience will not dry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/never-a-tear-bedims-the-eye-that-time-and-patience-will-not-dry/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) [Explore all 38 Bret Harte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) ## More Arsenic quotes > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Important Tip: Avoid arsenic in any dishes. Seems that a dead guest has a way of putting a damper on a party. Go figure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/important-tip-avoid-arsenic-in-any-dishes-seems-that-a-dead-guest-has/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [You should try them, Nick. They’re delicious. No one makes cookies that taste like this.” – Kara ‘Probably because arsenic was a key ingredient.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-should-try-them-nick-they-re-delicious-no-one-makes-cookies-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“As there are six kinds of metals, so I have also shown with reliable experiments... that there are also six kinds of half-metals: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-brandt/as-there-are-six-kinds-of-metals-so-i-have-also-shown-with-reliable/) Georg Brandt > [Voltaire remarked that it is possible to kill a flock of sheep by witchcraft if you give them plenty of arsenic at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/voltaire-remarked-that-it-is-possible-to-kill-a-flock-of-sheep-by/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [A fit of anger is as fatal to dignity as a dose of arsenic is to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/a-fit-of-anger-is-as-fatal-to-dignity-as-a-dose-of-arsenic-is-to-life/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [Berlin stimulates like arsenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-nicolson/berlin-stimulates-like-arsenic/) [Harold Nicolson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-nicolson/) > [“L'art Green arsenic smeared on an egg-white cloth, Crushed strawberries! Come, let us feast our eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/l-art-green-arsenic-smeared-on-an-egg-white-cloth-crushed/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Today, about 40 percent of America's carbon pollution comes from our power plants. There are no federal limits to the amount those plants can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/today-about-40-percent-of-america-s-carbon-pollution-comes-from-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Arsenic turned out to work even better, and was cheaper. Until it was banned in the 1890s, it was used widely, and heavy arsenic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-weisman/arsenic-turned-out-to-work-even-better-and-was-cheaper-until-it-was/) [Alan Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-weisman/) > [“Plutonium may give you grief for thousands of years, but Arsenic is for ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/plutonium-may-give-you-grief-for-thousands-of-years-but-arsenic-is/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Arsenic sticks around and today it's easily found after death if somebody thinks of looking for it, because the problem with arsenic, it isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-baden/arsenic-sticks-around-and-today-it-s-easily-found-after-death-if/) [Michael Baden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-baden/) > [“I know a lot of people were praying for us to find the arsenic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannie-walker/i-know-a-lot-of-people-were-praying-for-us-to-find-the-arsenic/) [Jeannie Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannie-walker/) > [Family, like arsenic, works best in small doses...unless you prefer to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/family-like-arsenic-works-best-in-small-doses-unless-you-prefer-to-die/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ARSENIC, n. A kind of cosmetic greatly affected by the ladies, whom it greatly affects in turn. "Eat arsenic? Yes, all you get," Consenting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/arsenic-n-a-kind-of-cosmetic-greatly-affected-by-the-ladies-whom-it/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 27 Arsenic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arsenic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bret Harte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-better-stick-like-the-mission/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arsenic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-better-stick-like-the-mission/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/bret-harte-16965_arsenic_don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-be_2213906.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't be too quickTo break bad habits: better stick,Like the Mission folk, to your arsenic.” — Bret Harte", "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": "Bret Harte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't be too quickTo break bad...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-better-stick-like-the-mission/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/don-t-be-too-quickto-break-bad-habits-better-stick-like-the-mission/#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 } } ] } ```