"
"You exaggerate the part played by what you call the mind. Human
conduct is mainly a matter of heredity and environment. Most of it
is determined by instinct, impulse, and habit."
"Granted, for the sake of argument. But may there not be a mental
as well as a physical inheritance, an environment of thought as
well as of bodily circumstances?"
"Perhaps so. Yes, I suppose that is true to a certain extent."
"A poor phrase, my dear Hardman; but let it pass. Will you admit
that there may be habits of thinking and feeling as well as habits
of doing and making things?"
"Certainly."
"And do you recognize a difference between bad habits and good
habits?"
"Of course."
"And you agree that this difference exists both in mental and
in physical affairs? For example, you would call the foreman of a
machine-shop who directed his work in accordance with the natural
laws of his material and of his steam or electric power a man of
good habits, would you not?"
"Undoubtedly."
"And you would not deny him this name, but would rather emphasize
it, if in addition he had the habit of paying regard to the moral
and social laws which condition the welfare and efficiency of his
workmen; for example, self-control, cheerfulness, honesty, fair
play, honor, human kindness, and so on.
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