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What does 'a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds' mean?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
This quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, from his essay, Self-Reliance:
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
Emerson believed that people need to stop foolishly following everyone else, and become self-reliant. To break it down into plain English:
"Foolish consistency" - doing something the same way over and over without a good reason
"hobgoblin" - a monster or demon or, in this case, it means the thing that trips you up
"little minds" - people who cannot think logically and rationally
"little statesmen and philosophers and divines" - small-minded politicians, philosophers, and church officials
Thus, following rules without reasons is the thing which hampers small-minded people.
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∙ 10y ago
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What does Emerson call the hobgoblin of little minds?
"a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds," -Emerson self reliance
Who wrote the quote poor minds talk about people average minds talk about events great minds talk about ideas?
Eleanor Roosevelt.
Who wrote the quote 'poor minds talk about people average minds talk about events great minds talk about ideas'?
The original quote from Eleanor Roosevelt goes like this: Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.There are variations on this quote. Tobias S. Gibson is credited with this shorter version: Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people.US humorist, Fran Lebowitz's alter version is: Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine.This was said by Socrates.
In which veda is the saying war begins in the minds of men stated?
Atharva Ved
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds?
Albert Einstein
What does Emerson call the hobgoblin of little minds?
"a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds," -Emerson self reliance
What is in the essay self-reliance Emerson?
Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblins of little minds." A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Apex = ) A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Type your answer here... Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.
Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds - This phrase was coined by what Transcendentalist?
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What did Emerson mean when he said A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds?
many people act according to habit or custom without thinking about why
What does Emerson say about consistency?
Emerson believed that consistency was the hobgoblin of little minds, indicating that rigid consistency can hinder personal growth and creativity. He emphasized the importance of remaining open to new ideas and experiences, even if they contradict one's previous beliefs.
What word completes this sentence from self reliance?
The word "nothing" completes this sentence from "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines."
When Ralph Waldo Emerson said 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds' what did he mean?
Emerson meant that only small-minded people would be so foolish as to refuse to change a customary practice, or way of looking at things, simply because "We have always done it this way!" even if a change might be beneficial -- perhaps cheaper, fairer, more effective, or more in keeping with objective evidence. (One use of the word "hobgoblin" in Emerson's time was to denote a concept or entity that induced in some people fear or distress out of proportion to its actual importance.)Answer:This quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, from his essay, Self-Reliance: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.Emerson believed that people need to stop foolishly following everyone else, and become self-reliant. To break it down into plain English:"Foolish consistency" - doing something the same way over and over without a good reason"hobgoblin" - a monster or demon or, in this case, it means the thing that trips you up"little minds" - people who cannot think logically and rationally"little statesmen and philosophers and divines" - small-minded politicians, philosophers, and church officialsThus, following rules without reasons is the thing which hampers small-minded people. Those who make it their business to control others beliefs, especially those mentioned by Emerson, encourage the foolish consistencies in those people they wish to control.
What is Emerson speaking of when he mentions consistency and why does he berate it as the hobgoblin minds?
This quote from Self-Reliance addresses the problem of rigid ideology, habit, and resistance to change. Flexibility, progress, and open mindedness can lead to a wealth of knowledge.
What are the release dates for Foolish Minds - 2001?
Foolish Minds - 2001 was released on: USA: 29 May 2001 (Los Angeles Film Festival)
Can you being a sentence with because?
Yes, you can begin a sentence with "because." However, it is considered more formal and grammatically correct to avoid starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction like "because." Instead, it is recommended to rephrase the sentence or use a subordinate clause.
What actors and actresses appeared in Foolish Minds - 2001?
The cast of Foolish Minds - 2001 includes: Terry Camilleri as Tony Eric Collin Campbell as Harry Paul McKinney as Troy Diana Terranova as Pizza Slut
What does great minds and fools never differ mean?
This phrase suggests that both intelligent individuals and foolish individuals may reach the same conclusion or decision. It implies that sometimes there is no distinction between the insights of brilliant minds and those of foolish individuals.
