The sense of security more frequently springs from habit than from conviction, and for this reason it oftensubsists after such a change in the conditions as might have been expected to suggest alarm. The lapse of time during which a given event has not happened, is, in this logic of habit, constantly alleged as a reason why the event should never happen, even when the lapse of time is precisely the added condition which makes the event imminent.

Summary

This quote suggests that the feeling of security often arises from familiarity and routine rather than from a deep understanding or belief. It explains that this sense of security can persist even when there are changes in circumstances that should logically trigger alarm. The quote also highlights the tendency to rely on the notion that if a certain event has not occurred for a long time, there is a belief that it will never happen. However, it warns that this logic of habit can be misleading, as sometimes the passing of time only makes the event more likely to happen.

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