100 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



nothing. Imagine Hercules as oarsman in a rotten 

 boat ; what can he do there but by the very force of 

 his stroke expedite the ruin of his craft ? Take care 

 then of the timbers of your boat, and avoid all practices 

 likely to introduce either wet or dry rot amongst them. 

 And this is not to be accomplished by desultory or 

 intermittent efforts of the will, but by the formation of 

 habits. The will no doubt has sometimes to put forth 

 its strength in order to crush the special temptation. 

 But the formation of right habits is essential to your 

 permanent security. They diminish your chance of 

 falling when assailed, and they augment your chance of 

 recovery when overthrown. 



