Ralph Waldo Emerson
1841 · Concord, Massachusetts, USA
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.
"Self-Reliance," in Essays: First Series
More from Ralph Waldo Emerson · #argument
In the same thread
Walt Whitman
first published 1855, revised all his life · United States
Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)
"Song of Myself" 51, in Leaves of Grass
Oscar Wilde
1892 · Ireland · Britain
Whenever people agree with me, I always feel I must be wrong.
Lady Windermere's Fan, Act 3, spoken by Cecil Graham
Ralph Waldo Emerson
1841 · Concord, Massachusetts, USA
Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
"Self-Reliance," in Essays: First Series
Wang Fanzhi 王梵志
c. 7th century · Tang China · Worn seam-side out, a sock looks worse and feels better
I, Fanzhi, wear my socks inside out, and everyone says it is wrong. I would sooner offend your eyes than hurt my own feet.
梵志翻著襪，人皆道是錯。
乍可刺你眼，不可隱我腳。A poem of Wang Fanzhi, as quoted and handed down by Huang Tingjian of the Song
Henry David Thoreau
1854 · Massachusetts, USA
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Walden, conclusion
1 in 100 Billion · The social network of those who came before us