His main argument holds that great men should be able to live as they would in solitude even while in the midst of the crowd, since "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds", and "to be great is to be misunderstood".
Early in this essay, the author claims that by placing undue emphasis on names and customs, society is a conspiracy against the manhood of its members, who should not be ashamed of their instincts, which are from God. He then goes on to question the worship of the past, since the movements of history are the reflections of the personalities of individuals, but each individual has something original in his nature. His main argument holds that great men should be able to live as they would in solitude even while in the midst of the crowd, since "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds", and "to be great is to be misunderstood". FTP, what is this essay in which Ralph Waldo Emerson advocates trust in the divine self?
Early in this essay, the author claims that by placing undue emphasis on names and customs, society is a conspiracy against the manhood of its members, who should not be ashamed of their instincts, which are from God.
Self-Reliance