The Art of Living Long

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ... THE FIRST DISCOURSE WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF EIGHTY-THBEE Wherein the author details the method by which he corrected his infirm condition, strengthened his naturally weak constitution, and thenceforth continued in the enjoyment of perfect health IT is certain that habit, in man, eventually becomes second nature, compelling him to practice that to which he has become accustomed, regardless of whether such a thing be beneficial or injurious to him. Moreover, we see in many instances -- and no one can call this into question -- that the force of habit will triumph even over reason. Indeed, if a man of good morals frequents the company of a bad man, it very often happens that he will change from good to bad. Yet sometimes the contrary is equally true; namely, that while good habits often change readily for the worse, so also do bad habits change to good ones; since a wicked man who has once been good may still, by frequenting the society of the good, return to the better ways which he had formerly followed. All these changes must be attributed solely to the force of habit, which is truly very great. It is in consequence of this powerful force of habit, that of late, -- indeed during my own lifetime and memory, -- three evil customs have gradually gained a foothold in our own Italy. The first of these is adulation and ceremony, the second is heresy, and the third is intemperance. These three vices, cruel monsters of human life as they truly are, have, in our day, prevailed so universally as to have impaired the sincerity of social life, the religion of the soul, and the health of the body. Having long reflected on this unfortunate condition, I have now determined to treat of the last of these vices -- intemperance; and, in order to accomplish...