Bad habit Quote by Emily Post
“Any child can be taught to be beautifully behaved with no effort greater than quiet patience and perseverance, whereas to break bad habits once they are acquired is a Herculean task.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics by Emily Post, 1922
Teaching children good behavior requires patience and perseverance; breaking bad habits later is extremely difficult.
In simple terms: Patience teaches good habits; breaking bad habits is hard.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate patience and consistency early.
Themes
patience
perseverance
habit formation
parenting
education
Mood
encouraging
practical
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- parenting
- schooling
- coaching
- self‑improvement
- habit reversal
Key Concepts
Behavioral psychology
habit theory
child development
Questions to Reflect On
- What small steps can reinforce good behavior daily?
- How can you support someone breaking a bad habit?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched habits may need more than patience alone.
![“The longing to behold this pre-established harmony [of phenomena and theoretical principles] is the source of the inexhaustible patience and perseverance with which Planck has devoted himself ... The state of mind which enables a man to do work of this kind is akin to that of the religious…” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb8/albert-einstein-33_effort_the-longing-to-behold-this-pre-establish_1850774.jpg)
