--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Habit is altogether too arbitrary a…" description: "\"Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.\" — Johann Kaspar Lavater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_arbitrary_habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-mast_23487.jpg" --- # Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to… ![“Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.” quote by Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_arbitrary_habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-mast_23487.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_arbitrary_habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-mast_23487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_arbitrary_habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-mast_23487.jpg) > “Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.” [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker rejects habit as an uncontrolled force, insisting on conscious choice rather than automatic behavior. **In simple terms:** Habits are not a master to obey. Key Takeaway Self‑direction beats automatic habit. Themes habit self‑control autonomy psychology Mood defiant empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - breaking a smoking habit - forming a study routine - overcoming procrastination Key Concepts behavioral conditioning free will Practical Applications - practice deliberate decision‑making - replace unwanted habits with intentional actions Questions to Reflect On - When do habits serve you versus constrain you? - How can you transform a habit into a conscious choice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altogether Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altogether-arbitrary-404538/) [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Arbitrary Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-master-404539/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Altogether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-altogether-404537/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Submit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit/) ## Related quotes > [If any man's money can be taken by a so-called government, without his own personal consent, all his other rights are taken with it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-any-man-s-money-can-be-taken-by-a-so-called-government-without-his/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the state or the chief, but in the moral weakness of the individual, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-ratzel/arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the-strength-of-the-state-or-the/) [Friedrich Ratzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-ratzel/) > [Fortune, like other females, prefers a lover to a master, and submits with impatience to control; but he that wooes her with opportunity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/fortune-like-other-females-prefers-a-lover-to-a-master-and-submits/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To withdraw ourselves from the law of the strong, we have found ourselves obliged to submit to justice. 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I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) ## More by Johann Kaspar Lavater > [Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/neatness-begets-order-but-from-order-to-taste-there-is-the-same/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-horse-laugh-indicates-brutality-of-character/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/don-t-speak-evil-of-someone-if-you-don-t-know-for-certain-and-if-you/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Before thou callest a man hero or genius, investigate whether his exertion has features of indelibility; for all that is celestial, all genius, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/before-thou-callest-a-man-hero-or-genius-investigate-whether-his/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [“Si quieres ser sabio, aprende a interrogar razonablemente, a escuchar con atención, a responder serenamente y a callar cuando no tengas nada que decir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/si-quieres-ser-sabio-aprende-a-interrogar-razonablemente-a-escuchar/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The creditor whose appearance gladdens the heart of a debtor may hold his head in sunbeams and his foot on storms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-creditor-whose-appearance-gladdens-the-heart-of-a-debtor-may-hold/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The craftiest trickery are too short and ragged a cloak to cover a bad heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-craftiest-trickery-are-too-short-and-ragged-a-cloak-to-cover-a/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Who affects useless singularities has surely a little mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/who-affects-useless-singularities-has-surely-a-little-mind/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Who has a daring eye tell downright truths and downright lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/who-has-a-daring-eye-tell-downright-truths-and-downright-lies/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [True worth is as inevitably discovered by the facial expression, as its opposite is sure to be clearly represented there. The human face is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/true-worth-is-as-inevitably-discovered-by-the-facial-expression-as/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Fools learn nothing from wise men, but wise men learn much from fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/fools-learn-nothing-from-wise-men-but-wise-men-learn-much-from-fools/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Who will sacrifice nothing, and enjoy all, is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/who-will-sacrifice-nothing-and-enjoy-all-is-a-fool/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The procrastinator is not only indolent and weak, but commonly, false, too; most of the weak are false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-procrastinator-is-not-only-indolent-and-weak-but-commonly-false/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [You may tell a man thou art a fiend, but not your nose wants blowing; to him alone who can bear a thing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/you-may-tell-a-man-thou-art-a-fiend-but-not-your-nose-wants-blowing/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [All belief that does not make us more happy, more free, more loving, more active, more calm, is, I fear, a mistaken and superstitious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/all-belief-that-does-not-make-us-more-happy-more-free-more-loving/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) [Explore all 245 Johann Kaspar Lavater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. 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