THE LAW OF HABIT. 43 



flurry may be rendered the customary thing by habituation. Habit 

 does not blunt the feelings of pride, of self-esteem, of the pleasures 

 of benevolence, of paternal love, and motherly devotion and tender- 

 ness, but quickens and strengthens them. "With all regular exercise 

 these emotional tendencies grow in vigor ; but, on the other hand, 

 grief, and remorse, and shame, are gradually exhausted by being 

 indulged. 



In the same way frequency or persistency of exercise vary in their 

 efiects upon the different faculties of our moral nature. In short, 

 the conclusion is established, with every degree of probability, that 

 the effects of custom, or habit, or frequency of repetition (it matters 

 not by what name we groiip together the influences at work), vary 

 with every variety in the nature of the capacities exercised. 



We note again, that not only do the effects of habit vary when 

 different powers are subjected to it ; but also that its energies may 

 be exerted in sti-angely different directions within the sphere of each 

 sepai'ate power. For example, let us compare the results developed 

 by exercise of the power of voluntary muscular control in the follow- 

 ing cases : — 



(a) Of the accomplished pianist ; 



(6) Of the blacksmith, or the porter ; 



(c) Of the pi'ofessional boxer, or the ballet-dancer. 



In the first, exercise of the voluntary muscles gives extreme facility 

 of movement without any proportionate increase of strength. In 

 the second, it develops strength, massive power and endurance, with- 

 out any corresponding increase in facility of rapid movement.^ In 

 the third, the effect seems to be due to a combined action of the 

 previous modes of increase, the muscles developing at the same time 

 a surprising degree of rapidity of action and robust energy. Though 

 greatly increased in strength, they are yet more and more brought 

 under dominion of the will. 



Our intellectual faculties, under habit, exhibit to us a similarly 

 varied scene. Here, on the one hand, we find i-eadiness and dexterity 

 of thought and quickness of combination, as in the power of extem- 

 pore speaking. There, on the other hand, is found massive power 

 and plodding endurance. And yet again we find that exercise may 

 develop energy and agility in unison, as in legal and parliamentary 

 debate, and in the higher styles of poetry. In such cases as these, 

 while the notion of increased facility or force, or both, is sufficient to 



