Habit is a second nature which prevents us from knowing the first of which it has neither the cruelties nor the enchantments.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

Habit is a second nature that destroys the first. But what is nature? Why is habit not natural? I am very much afraid that nature itself is only a first habit just as habit is a second nature.

When we think of the major threats to our national security the first to come to mind are nuclear proliferation rogue states and global terrorism. But another kind of threat lurks beyond our shores one from nature not humans - an avian flu pandemic.

We are all full of weakness and errors let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.

What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature.

We talk of our mastery of nature which sounds very grand but the fact is we respectfully adapt ourselves first to her ways.

The groves were God's first temples.

And the heart that is soonest awake to the flowers is always the first to be touch'd by the thorns.

Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath no man manages his affairs as well as a tree does.