--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: a long habit of not thinking a thing…" description: "\"“a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of cu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/thomas-paine-267_habits_a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-a-thing-wro_1522603.png" --- # a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a… ![“a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/thomas-paine-267_habits_a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-a-thing-wro_1522603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/thomas-paine-267_habits_a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-a-thing-wro_1522603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/thomas-paine-267_habits_a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-a-thing-wro_1522603.png) > ““a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom.”” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unquestioned habits appear correct until challenged, then provoke strong defense of tradition **In simple terms:** Habits seem right until examined Key Takeaway Question assumptions, seek evidence Themes critical thinking tradition habit skepticism Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political discourse - organizational change - personal decision making Key Concepts cognitive bias social conformity Questions to Reflect On - What habit have you accepted without scrutiny? - How do you test the validity of long‑standing practices? A Different Perspective Habits can be deeply entrenched and resistant to change ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Formidable Outcry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formidable-outcry-3248103/) [Habit Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-thinking-306175/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Outcry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcry/) [Outcry Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcry-defence-5631380/) [Superficial Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superficial-appearance-1486843/) ## Related quotes > [A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-a-thing-wrong-gives-it-a-superficial-3/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-a-thing-wrong-gives-it-a-superficial-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“PERHAPS the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/perhaps-the-sentiments-contained-in-the-following-pages-are-not-yet/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Give your behavior and conduct more importance than how you look, what you're dressed in and everything else that's superficial in appearance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/give-your-behavior-and-conduct-more-importance-than-how-you-look-what/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [“The gaze of others is quite without indulgence for our defects and that of Mantegna is pitiless. I am grateful to him. Harshness, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-ferranti/the-gaze-of-others-is-quite-without-indulgence-for-our-defects-and/) [Marie Ferranti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-ferranti/) > [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/) > [“It is a profoundly erroneous truism repeated by all copybooks, and by eminent people when they are making speeches, that we should cultivate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-d-hirsch-jr-2/it-is-a-profoundly-erroneous-truism-repeated-by-all-copybooks-and-by/) [E.D. Hirsch Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-d-hirsch-jr-2/) > [“The habit of thinking in terms of comparison is a fatal one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-habit-of-thinking-in-terms-of-comparison-is-a-fatal-one/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [A public outcry usually masks a private obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/a-public-outcry-usually-masks-a-private-obsession/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Pain is an outcry of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/pain-is-an-outcry-of-sin/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Nature is an outcry, unpolished truth; the art, a euphemism, tamed wilderness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/nature-is-an-outcry-unpolished-truth-the-art-a-euphemism-tamed/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“That voice that cries out doesn't have to be a weakling's does it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/that-voice-that-cries-out-doesn-t-have-to-be-a-weakling-s-does-it/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [“They want us to be afraid. They want us to be afraid of leaving our homes. They want us to barricade our doors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/they-want-us-to-be-afraid-they-want-us-to-be-afraid-of-leaving-our/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I think the moment anybody seriously tampers with the First Amendment, you're going to see an outcry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-hersh/i-think-the-moment-anybody-seriously-tampers-with-the-first-amendment/) [Seymour Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-hersh/) > [“It is not often the worst trait that occasions the loudest outcry. Men complain of their suffering and not of the crime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-not-often-the-worst-trait-that-occasions-the-loudest-outcry-men/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. 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Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Habits quotes > [“Malchut is also the Alma D’Itgalya, “the Revealed World.” Here our latent potential is actualized through behavior and expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laibl-wolf/malchut-is-also-the-alma-d-itgalya-the-revealed-world-here-our-latent/) [Laibl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laibl-wolf/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. 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Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. 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