Unmasking A Foolish Consistency Analysis

Unmasking a Foolish Consistency by Yerika Germosen In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson claims that “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”. To determine this quote’s meaning and significance it’s important to first analyze its author’s way of thinking and purpose. Being a transcendentalist and having a religious backbone affected Emerson’s perspectives. He encouraged others to accomplish their vision, even if there are oppositions and to listen to the voice inside. In his eyes, asking a soul to be consistent is like asking a bird not to fly. It restrains individuals from achieving and for this reason he is against it.
Coming from a religious family, Emerson was exposed to a distinct way of thinking at a very early age. His mother’s religion, Anglicanism, doesn’t require individuals to agree or accept all statements. Emerson was heavily influenced by Anglican writers and thinkers. He was also a …show more content…
There will always be an inertia one must go against any given journey. Emerson invites individuals to impede outside opinion to affect one’s self. Being foolishly consistent can be compared to being imprisoned, it is like being under the rule of another instead of your own. For this reason, Emerson stresses the idea of listening to one’s inner self without letting the outermost disturb. Emerson also avows that “To be great is to be misunderstood”, being misunderstood is no reason to be afraid. Numerous successful individuals were once misunderstood and are celebrated in the present day because their revolutionary deeds. Galileo was punished and considered ludicrous for proposing the heliocentric theory and yet today we affirm his ideas. Steve Job was told personal computers were unnecessary and having a laptop today is a necessity. If these men had allowed an outside opinion gotten in their way, they wouldn’t have accomplished what they