Who wrote a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds?
“Self-Reliance” is an 1841 essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson’s recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas.
What is the hobgoblin of little minds quizlet?
Hobgoblin of little minds means it’s basically something that controls a small minded person; a follower.
What is the theme of Self-Reliance?
The main themes in “Self-Reliance” are genius vs. conformity, transcendent experience, and the paradox of imitation. Genius vs. conformity: According to Emerson, those who attain genius are those who turn away from the pressures of the crowd and attend to their own thoughts and instincts.
Which one of the Emerson’s essays contains the famous line A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds?
Definition of A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. A great person does not have to think consistently from one day to the next. This remark comes from the essay “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
What does Emerson say about foolish consistency?
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
What are the four main ideas of Self-Reliance?
Self-Reliance | Main Ideas
- “Trust Thyself” and Change the World. The heart of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” is the exhortation to “trust thyself,” a deceptively simple-sounding admonition.
- Resist Conformity.
- Divine Providence.
What did Emerson mean by foolish consistency?
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall.
What is a hobgoblin in literature?
A hobgoblin is a household spirit, typically appearing in folklore, once considered helpful, but which since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck in his A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a hobgoblin.
Is foolish consistency the Hobgoblin of little minds?
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. As with most things, context matters, which is what makes this quote…
What does Emerson mean by foolish consistency is the Hobgoblin of little minds?
In saying in Self-Reliance that “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,” Emerson means that you should not allow your current ideas and opinions to be dictated by what you used to think. Only those with little minds are afraid to change their minds when a better idea occurs to them. Download PDF.
What is the Hobgoblin method?
The hobgoblin method, as I think of this approach, happens when an organization is so concerned with the imagined trouble of working towards consistency that they dismiss it altogether.
What is a foolish consistency?
Let’s examine the actual quote: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall.