The hobgoblin of little minds
In "Self-Reliance," Ralph Waldo Emerson included the oft-(mis)quoted epigram, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
As an editor, I have heard paraphrases of the above too many times to recount, usually when a writer or (in a larger house or firm) copyeditor (one who is (a) inexperienced, (b) wishing to move out of proofreading/copyediting and into the more glamorous (as if!) substantive editing, or (c) both) is reviewing my notes for changes. "Be consistent," I advise, pointing to one or another (or several!) item(s) on the house style sheet. "Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds," they mutter. I don't suffer these misquoting fools gladly, but I usually let them pass without challenge.
One afternoon about eight years ago, though, a (very) junior claims attorney grew weary of my patient commentary on his submission to the firm's annual report, and loudly sighed, "You know, [insert my name here], consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds."
His secretary smirked at me.
"You know what, [insert real fool's name here]? The complete quote is, 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.' And here's what I'm thinking: I'm thinking that Mr. [insert surname of firm president] would share my view that closely adhering to the company style he helped me pen would represent an, oh, I don't know, wise consistency. What do you think? Shall we go ask him?"
Muttering junior attorney bustles off with secretary.
Editor vindicated.
Emerson fails to advise readers of the differences between a foolish consistency and a wise consistency, of course, but one could always read "Self-Reliance" and determine it for himself.
The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them.
...
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. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
Folks, Emerson wasn't talking about grammar or punctuation conventions, house style guides or publishing formats. No, he was talking about something grander. Isn't it sad that his profound idea has been reduced to so little a thing?
________________________
We at M-mv are signing off for a few days. Look for us on Sunday. Until then, read, think, learn. Send us email messages. And make your purchases via an Amazon.com link (like this one!) here at "Mental multivitamin." Thank you.
As an editor, I have heard paraphrases of the above too many times to recount, usually when a writer or (in a larger house or firm) copyeditor (one who is (a) inexperienced, (b) wishing to move out of proofreading/copyediting and into the more glamorous (as if!) substantive editing, or (c) both) is reviewing my notes for changes. "Be consistent," I advise, pointing to one or another (or several!) item(s) on the house style sheet. "Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds," they mutter. I don't suffer these misquoting fools gladly, but I usually let them pass without challenge.
One afternoon about eight years ago, though, a (very) junior claims attorney grew weary of my patient commentary on his submission to the firm's annual report, and loudly sighed, "You know, [insert my name here], consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds."
His secretary smirked at me.
"You know what, [insert real fool's name here]? The complete quote is, 'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.' And here's what I'm thinking: I'm thinking that Mr. [insert surname of firm president] would share my view that closely adhering to the company style he helped me pen would represent an, oh, I don't know, wise consistency. What do you think? Shall we go ask him?"
Muttering junior attorney bustles off with secretary.
Editor vindicated.
Emerson fails to advise readers of the differences between a foolish consistency and a wise consistency, of course, but one could always read "Self-Reliance" and determine it for himself.
The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them.
...
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. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
Folks, Emerson wasn't talking about grammar or punctuation conventions, house style guides or publishing formats. No, he was talking about something grander. Isn't it sad that his profound idea has been reduced to so little a thing?
________________________
We at M-mv are signing off for a few days. Look for us on Sunday. Until then, read, think, learn. Send us email messages. And make your purchases via an Amazon.com link (like this one!) here at "Mental multivitamin." Thank you.
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