Do we not wile away moments of inanity or fatigued waiting by repeating some trivial movement or sound, until the repetition has bred a want, which is incipient habit?

Summary

This quote highlights how humans often engage in mindless activities or monotonous routines during idle moments, such as repeatedly making a certain movement or producing a sound. Over time, this mindless repetition creates a longing or desire, forming the beginning stages of a habit. The quote suggests that we resort to these trivial actions to pass the time or distract ourselves, inadvertently laying the groundwork for future habits, whether beneficial or undesirable.

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