--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Custom ... changes the very nature of…" description: "\"Custom ... changes the very nature of things; and what was honorable a thousand years ago, may probably be looked upon as infamous now.\" — Charlotte Le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png" --- # Custom ... changes the very nature of things; and what was… ![“Custom ... changes the very nature of things; and what was honorable a thousand years ago, may probably be looked upon as infamous now.” quote by Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png) > “Custom ... changes the very nature of things; and what was honorable a thousand years ago, may probably be looked upon as infamous now.” [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Values shift over time; what once seemed noble may now be condemned. **In simple terms:** Ideas of honor change with eras. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about past virtues. Themes history morality change honor Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - legal reforms - social movements - education curricula Key Concepts cultural relativism ethical evolution historical context Questions to Reflect On - How do we judge historical figures? - Can we separate actions from context? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) ## Related quotes > [Of actions some aim at what is necessary and useful, and some at what is honorable. 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And humans may have been partly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/climate-change-habitat-destruction-extinctions-the-earth-has-seen-it/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [So, in the physical world mankind are prone to seek an explanation of uncommon phenomena only, while the ordinary changes of nature, which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/almira-hart-lincoln-phelps/so-in-the-physical-world-mankind-are-prone-to-seek-an-explanation-of/) Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps > [“This light is such as effectually influences the inclination, and changes the nature of the soul. It assimilates the nature to the divine nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/this-light-is-such-as-effectually-influences-the-inclination-and/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“I read once that the act of observing changes the nature of what is observed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-read-once-that-the-act-of-observing-changes-the-nature-of-what-is/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [These births and deaths are changes in nature which we are mistaking for changes in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/these-births-and-deaths-are-changes-in-nature-which-we-are-mistaking/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Time changes the nature of the whole world; Everything passes from one state to another And nothing stays like itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/time-changes-the-nature-of-the-whole-world-everything-passes-from-one/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Global equations undergo changes, this is their nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/global-equations-undergo-changes-this-is-their-nature/) [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/) > [The solution to a problem changes the nature of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-peers/the-solution-to-a-problem-changes-the-nature-of-the-problem/) [John Peers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-peers/) > [As the quality of water changes with the nature of the soil;So will a man's reason vary with the quality of his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiruvalluvar/as-the-quality-of-water-changes-with-the-nature-of-the-soil-so-will-a/) [Thiruvalluvar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiruvalluvar/) > [When a tiger changes his nature, Englishmen will change theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/when-a-tiger-changes-his-nature-englishmen-will-change-theirs/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [To the person who desires nothing and does not get entangled in desires, the manifold changes of nature are one panorama of beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-the-person-who-desires-nothing-and-does-not-get-entangled-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [To be the agent whose touch changes nature from a wild force to a work of art is inspiration of the highest order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rodale/to-be-the-agent-whose-touch-changes-nature-from-a-wild-force-to-a/) Robert Rodale > [My favorite event of the season is the Costume Institute Gala at the Met in May. To that I'll wear custom Vera Wang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-winston-wolkoff/my-favorite-event-of-the-season-is-the-costume-institute-gala-at-the/) [Stephanie Winston Wolkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-winston-wolkoff/) ## More by Charlotte Lennox > [Nothing is more common than for persons to hate those whom they have injured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/nothing-is-more-common-than-for-persons-to-hate-those-whom-they-have/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [Politeness is sometimes a great tax upon sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/politeness-is-sometimes-a-great-tax-upon-sincerity/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [A hero in one age will be a hero in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/a-hero-in-one-age-will-be-a-hero-in-another/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [Truth is too weak to combat prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/truth-is-too-weak-to-combat-prejudice/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [“For Heaven's sake, Cousin, resumed Arabella, laughing, how have you spent your Time; and to what Studies have you devoted all your Hours, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/for-heaven-s-sake-cousin-resumed-arabella-laughing-how-have-you-spent/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [The motives even of our best actions will not always bear examination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/the-motives-even-of-our-best-actions-will-not-always-bear-examination/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [“Since, replied Arabella, that uneasiness has neither made you thinner, nor paler, I don't think you ought to be pitied...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/since-replied-arabella-that-uneasiness-has-neither-made-you-thinner/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [It is more important to detect corruption than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/it-is-more-important-to-detect-corruption-than-fiction/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [We are better deceived by having some truth told us than none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/we-are-better-deceived-by-having-some-truth-told-us-than-none/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [The law has no power over heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/the-law-has-no-power-over-heroes/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [It is easy to be just when our own inclinations do not oppose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/it-is-easy-to-be-just-when-our-own-inclinations-do-not-oppose-it/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [“That a man who had once betrayed him, it would be an error in policy ever to trust again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/that-a-man-who-had-once-betrayed-him-it-would-be-an-error-in-policy/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [There is no logic like the logic of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/there-is-no-logic-like-the-logic-of-the-heart/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [When a person is found less guilty than he is suspected, he is concluded more innocent than he really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/when-a-person-is-found-less-guilty-than-he-is-suspected-he-is/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) > [In taking revenge upon our enemies, we are only even with them; in passing over their malice we are superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/in-taking-revenge-upon-our-enemies-we-are-only-even-with-them-in/) [Charlotte Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) [Explore all 29 Charlotte Lennox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/) ## More Culture quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Custom ... changes the very nature of things; and what was honorable a thousand years ago, may probably be looked upon as infamous now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlotte Lennox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things-and-what-was-honorable-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Culture" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things-and-what-was-honorable-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/charlotte-lennox-21510_culture_custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things_1359564.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Custom ... changes the very nature of things; and what was honorable a thousand years ago, may probably be…” — Charlotte Lennox", "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": "Charlotte Lennox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lennox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Custom ... changes the very nature...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things-and-what-was-honorable-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lennox/custom-changes-the-very-nature-of-things-and-what-was-honorable-a/#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 } } ] } ```