proverb · Words worth keeping
Use is second nature.
Use is second nature.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Repeated practice can make an action feel natural. The saying describes familiarity becoming habitual rather than establishing that a habit is fixed or right.
Example
Someone notices that a practised checking routine now happens almost automatically and reviews whether it still fits the task.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Use is pictured as adding another nature to a person. It can recognise the ease that comes from practising a useful skill or the persistence of a routine repeated without thought. A careful reading asks what the habit serves and whether it should continue. Familiarity does not make harmful conduct acceptable, and habits can be examined and changed with suitable support and effort.
When to use it
Use it to reflect on how repetition shapes habits and skill.
Keep in mind
Habit is not destiny or proof that an action is good.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English