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. Essays, Lectures and Orations - Page 30by Ralph Waldo Emerson - 1848 - 364 pagesFull view - About this book
| Ralph Waldo Emerson - 1888 - 408 pages
...nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Out upon your guarded lips ! Sew them up with packthread, do. Else, if you would...man, speak what you think to-day in words as hard as cannon balls, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every... | |
| Ralph Waldo Emerson - 1888 - 402 pages
...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 everything you said to-day. — " Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood." — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood ? Pythagoras... | |
| John Rogers Rees - 1889 - 314 pages
...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...though it contradict everything you said to-day." On the I5th of May, 1833, Emerson dined with Landor, and thus records his experience: "I found him... | |
| 1890 - 596 pages
...consistency," he says, "a great soul has simply nothing to do." "Speak what you think now in hard words and to-morrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words...it contradict everything you said to-day — ' ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' Is it BO bad to be misunderstood ? Pythagoras was misunderstood,... | |
| 1890 - 770 pages
...More like other-world wisdom are these words from Emerson : *' Speak whaf you think now in hard words and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard...though it contradict everything you said to-day." And these from Bacon : " Simulation and dissimulation commonly carry with them a show of fearfulness,... | |
| Lillian Kupfer - 1890 - 184 pages
...little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. If you would be a man, speak what you think to-day in words as hard as cannon balls, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything... | |
| 1892 - 402 pages
...nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Out upon your guarded lips. Sew them up with packthread, do. Else if you would...man, speak what you think to-day in words as hard as cannon balls, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything... | |
| James Thomson - 1892 - 300 pages
...is but the lengthened shadow of one man." " A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Speak what you think to-day in words as hard as cannon-balls,...what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradicts every word you said to-day." After this, it is scarcely worth while to remark his thorough... | |
| John Christie - 1892 - 230 pages
...may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak of what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard...though it contradict everything you said to-day. ' Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' Js it so bad, then, to be misunderstood ? Pythagoras was... | |
| 1896 - 762 pages
...self-reliant, and tell his own thoughts. As Emerson says, " Else if you would be a man speak what you think in words as hard as cannon-balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in words again, though it contradict everything you said today." Above all, speak and claim your own position... | |
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