
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 does'a foolish consistency is the Hobgoblin of little minds'mean?
What does 'a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds' mean? - Answers 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.
What does Emerson mean by we have always done it this way?
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.

What is an example of foolish consistency?
A foolish consistency is one that serves no benefit for the end user. Making things look and work the same is pointless if the user can no longer accomplish their tasks. Rank making things useful above making them consistent. An example is interfaces for video games.
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 false consistency?
The fallacy that you can avoid having to choose between two alternatives by arguing for both. This temptation can arise when you are faced with two or more options which, though desirable in themselves, are inconsistent, or cannot be adopted at the same time as key defining objectives.
What little mind means?
proverb Unintelligent or uncultured people will be amused and distracted by frivolous, lowbrow entertainment.
What does Emerson call the hobgoblin of little minds quizlet?
Emerson states that the most sacred part of a person is his/her integrity of their own mind. What does Emerson call the "Hobgoblin of little minds"? Emerson calls the "hobgoblin of little minds" people who don't think for themselfves, follows whate everyone else tells them.
What does a hobgoblin do?
Hobgoblins seem to be small, hairy little men who, like their close relatives the brownies, are often found within human dwellings, doing odd jobs around the house while the family is asleep. Such chores are typically small tasks like dusting and ironing.
What does Emerson say is 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.
What does insist on yourself never imitate mean?
By this he means: do not imitate, or take the work of another to help yourself, "every great man is unique." To imitate is to see something and decide you would rather replicate what you see rather than valuing your own self.
What does trust thyself every heart vibrates?
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages...
What is the saying about small minds?
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary.
What is the theory of mind quizlet?
Theory of mind refers to an understanding of mental states - such as belief, desire, and knowledge - that enables us to explain and predict others' behaviour." It is the cognitive component of empathy.
What is the most common theme in dreams for both males and females?
They found four themes that were the most common, exceeding 60 percent prevalence in both men and women: being chased or pursued. falling. school/studying.
Which theory suggests that dreams are mental responses?
The activation-synthesis model suggests that dreams are caused by the physiological processes of the brain.
What is hypnosis psychology quizlet?
Hypnosis. A social interaction in which one person responds to another person's suggestions that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, our behaviors will spontaneously occur. A trance-like state of heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and intense focus.
Why does Emerson use the term "hobgoblin"?
In this statement, Emerson uses hobgoblin as a metaphor, comparing the abstract term "consistency" to the concrete image of a hobgoblin. This works well for Emerson's purposes, as he wants to belittle and warn his readers away from consistency. Hobgoblins would bring up in people's mind the idea of a minor evil or nuisance.
What does Emerson mean by "a 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 does Emerson say about self-reliance?
In his essay " Self-Reliance ," Ralph Waldo Emerson emphasizes the importance of trusting yourself and following your own ideas and instincts. Envy, he tells the reader, is ignorance, while "imitation is suicide.". There is no point in your existence if you merely copy somebody else.
What does Emerson mean by "foolish consistency"?
This is what Emerson means when he says that a "foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds ," which is so popular among various authority figures.
What did Ralph Waldo Emerson believe?
As a Transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson believed strongly in individualism; it is important, Emerson held, for each individual to follow whatever his conscience dictated at any particular time. Earlier in his essay, Emerson writes,
What does Emerson say about the opium of custom?
In another of his essays, "Education," Emerson writes of "the opium of custom" as people blindly follow traditional thought and action. ...
