A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
Genuine
Yes. In Essays: First Series (1841), Essay II, “Self-Reliance”.
Found word for word by program in the full text.
- Work
- Essays: First Series (Essays), 1841
- Where
- Essay II, “Self-Reliance”
- Found at
- Paragraph 78 of the text
Researched by AI; checked by program against the full text on 31 October 2026. Editorial review: pending. How we check
On the page
[…] Leave your theory, as Joseph his coat in the hand of the harlot, and flee.
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. […]
I suppose no man can violate his nature. All the sallies of his will are rounded in by the law of his being, as the inequalities of Andes and Himmaleh are insignificant in the curve of the sphere. […]
There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour. For of one will, the actions will be harmonious, however unlike they seem. […]
The scene
Emerson has named two pressures against self-trust: social disapproval and loyalty to one’s own previous statements. He urges readers to judge the past from the present rather than cling to an old theory. After this sentence he permits changes of mind and argues that honest actions can reveal a deeper unity of character.
What it means
Sticking to a position merely to avoid contradicting yourself can prevent you from thinking honestly now.
Often misread
The qualifying word is “foolish”: the argument attacks mechanical fidelity to past statements, not honesty or reasoned coherence. In the following paragraphs Emerson expects genuine actions to form a coherent character even when they look inconsistent at first.
Topics
Related quotes
- Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.
- Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.
- Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. (paraphrase) Mark Twain
- To be great is to be misunderstood.
- Without deviation, progress is not possible. Frank Zappa
Sources
Cite it
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series (1841), Essay II, “Self-Reliance”. Checked at Quotogeny, https://quotogeny.com/q/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds/ (31 October 2026).
Have a different wording, or a source we missed? Check it or submit it.
Do you hold the rights to anything on this page? Tell us.
Checked by people
People who checked this entry against its source, under their own names. Their checks do not change the verdict: an editor reviews every entry.
Comments