13. Give the substance of either (a) or (b) :
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(a) It has been rightly said that habit is second nature.
That is, what we do often today, we will soon begin to do
always tomorrow, and thus the habit will grow to be a part
of our natural self. For habit, whether good or bad, is the
basis of character, and a man is regarded by society
according to his habits and dispositions,
We should be very careful about forming our habits. Some
are in the habit of forgetting to do things or of mislaying
things. Some have a habit for being always late; some of
giving up a job after the first attempt. Some are habitual
late-risers; others are always slow; habit causes loss to
oneself and irritates others.
Habit often hardens into superstition. Syed Kirmani,
once India's test wicketkeeper, would go to play only after
touching the Holy Koran. Pandit Nehru used to get up
from bed in the morning with Sirshasan, i.e., standing
on his head. An eminent statesman could not start talk
except by swearing. A high officer was found to start
for office only after touching the feet of his mother.
He absented himself from office when his mother was in
the hospital.
For character is nothing but a bundle of habits. Habit,
when it hardens, becomes the dominant trait of character.
To quote Aristotle, “Men acquire a particular quality
by constantly acting in a particular way." Excellence of
character is nothing but a bundle of excellent habits.
Cultivate good habits and the most difficult task becomes
very easy to perform.
Answers
Answer:
Socrates taught that “the man who is master of himself is truly free”. By
being master of oneself he meant first knowing oneself, one‟s faults and
weaknesses and one‟s good points, without making any pretence and without
being vain, and then being able to control oneself. This knowledge of himself
was what helped a man to be courageous, and the courageous man has a very
important sort of freedom from fear. Socrates himself, because he was not
afraid of the consequences, always felt free to teach what he thought was
right, however unpopular this might make him with the powerful people in
Athens.
No wonder all his pupils love Socrates. But he made some dangerous enemies
by his strange ways of teaching and asking questions. Some of the rulers in
Athens did not like people to be encouraged to ask too many questions for
fear they would begin asking questions about what their rulers were doing. So
they accused Socrates of teaching young men wicked things and leading them
to throw off their religion. This was false, for in fact Socrates was a very
religious man. At last his enemies had him arrested, and he was condemned to
death. summary writting it hardens, becomes the dominant trait of character.
To quote Aristotle, “Men acquire a particular quality
by constantly acting in a particular way." Excellence of
character is nothing but a bundle of excellent habits.
Cultivate good habits and the most difficult task becomes
very easy to perform.