--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We first make our habits, and then our…" description: "\"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg" --- # We first make our habits, and then our habits make us. ![“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg) > “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Habits shape identity, and identity reinforces habits, creating a self‑reinforcing loop. **In simple terms:** Habits define us, and we define habits. Key Takeaway Cultivate good habits deliberately. Themes self‑development habit formation identity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily routines - skill practice - health habits - learning schedules Key Concepts behavioral loops self‑concept routine building Questions to Reflect On - Which habit most defines you? - How can you break a negative loop? A Different Perspective Habits can be hard to change; external pressures may disrupt them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ## Related quotes > [“We first make our habits, then our habits make us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-first-make-our-habits-then-our-habits-make-us/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“We first make our habits, then our habits make us. ENGLISH POET.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/we-first-make-our-habits-then-our-habits-make-us-english-poet/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [“You can either make your habits or your habits can make you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-castillo/you-can-either-make-your-habits-or-your-habits-can-make-you/) [Brooke Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-castillo/) > [“Just do it! First you make your habits, then your habits make you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-remmerswaal/just-do-it-first-you-make-your-habits-then-your-habits-make-you/) [Lucas Remmerswaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-remmerswaal/) > [We first make our habits, and then our habits make us download youtube videos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fady/we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-habits-make-us-download-youtube/) [Fady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fady/) > [First we make our habits, then our habits make us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-noble/first-we-make-our-habits-then-our-habits-make-us/) Charles C Noble > [“For the first thirty years of your life you make your habits. For the last thirty years of your life, your habits make you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-korb/for-the-first-thirty-years-of-your-life-you-make-your-habits-for-the/) [Alex Korb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-korb/) > [In the first 30 years of your life, you make your habits. For the last 30 years of your life, your habits make you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-first-30-years-of-your-life-you-make-your-habits-for-the-last/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“Keystone habits make tough choices—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/keystone-habits-make-tough-choices/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [I don't like to get too caught up in habits because too much structure can stifle creativity. But there are a few habits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-paliwal/i-don-t-like-to-get-too-caught-up-in-habits-because-too-much/) [Dinesh Paliwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-paliwal/) > [I'm a full-time believer in writing habits...You may be able to do without them if you have genius but most of us only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-m-a-full-time-believer-in-writing-habits-you-may-be-able-to-do/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [We are who we are because of three things, the choices we make, the habits we keep and the disciplines we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/we-are-who-we-are-because-of-three-things-the-choices-we-make-the/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/choices-lead-to-habits-habits-become-talents-talents-are-labeled/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Thoughts lead on to purposes; Purposes go forth in action; Actions form habits; Habits decide character; And character fixes our destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/thoughts-lead-on-to-purposes-purposes-go-forth-in-action-actions-form/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## 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 > [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": "We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-habits-make-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Habit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-habits-make-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/john-dryden-491_habits_we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-ha_1517823.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We first make our habits, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-habits-make-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-first-make-our-habits-and-then-our-habits-make-us/#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 } } ] } ```