A noted teacher has said that the propensities and habits are as teachable as Latin and Greek， while they are infinitely more essential to happiness. We are very largely the creatures of our wills. By constantly looking on the bright side of things， by viewing everything hopefully， by setting the face as a flint every hour of every day toward all that is harmonious and beautiful in life， and refusing to listen to the discord or to look at the ugly side of life， by constantly directing the thought toward what is noble， grand and true， we can soon form habits which will develop into a beautiful character， a harmonious and well-rounded life. We are creatures of habit， and by knowing the laws of its formation we can， in a little while， build up a network of habit about us， which will protect us from most of the ugly， selfish and degrading things of life. In fact， the only real happiness and unalloyed satisfaction we get out of life， is the product of self-control. It is the great guardian of all the virtues， without which none of them is safe. It is the sentinel， which stands on guard at the door of life， to admit friends and exclude enemies.
当醉汉的妻子反复催促他保证戒酒时，醉汉回答说：“我过一会儿就保证，但我不想现在就戒，最好是慢慢来。”妻子说：“非常好，没准儿你哪天会掉进坑里，没人会救你出来。”
不久之后，那个人喝醉了，真的掉进一口很深的井里，不过幸运的是，他的呼救声被他的妻子听到了，妻子说：“我警告你的事情真的发生了吧？幸好我听到了，要不然你就被淹死了。”他抓住水桶，妻子用力摇动辘轳，但是当他快要到达井口时，妻子却松开手，他又掉进了水里。这种情形反复了好多次，最终他忍不住大叫：“喂，我知道你是故意的。”他的妻子承认道：“是的，我就是故意的。你忘了你曾跟我说过，凡事要慢慢来吗？我怕让你突然上来，你会不适应。”他别无他法，于是马上保证要戒酒。他的妻子立刻把他救了上来，不过警告他说，如果他再喝醉掉进井里，她是不会再理睬他的。