Ever heard someone tell you “consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds?” They’re misquoting Ralph Waldo Emerson by leaving out an important word: foolish. That’s like leaving out the word “not” in a statement. The whole meaning changes because of the omission. We can all agree that “I am on fire” and “I am not on fire” are two very different statements. The same is true here. 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. As with most things, context matters, which is what … Continue reading Consistency Is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds