Talk with Tom
Get the dispatches from the new world of work
Getting It Wrong
So often we use familiar quotes that leave out "the next couple of lines." And the meaning is distorted beyond recognition in the process. Consider "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblins of little minds," from Ralph Waldo Emerson. The meaning is obviously that changing your mind is no sin; and that the wise among us change when circumstances change.
In the aforementioned D.O., I found the fuller version of RWE's wisdom:
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblins of little minds. Speak what you think today in words as hard as cannonballs, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today."
To be sure, the idea remains the idea of acceptable, in fact admirable inconsistency. But the emphasis is startling. Not only is inconsistency "okay," but inconsistency delivered in the most forceful terms is to be desired: "hard as cannonballs," "hard words." Moreover a rapid shift is acceptable as well: "today," "tomorrow"—though the latter doubtless is of a metaphorical character. At any rate, a significant change, and as one regularly accused of "[hard-word] inconsistency," most welcome.
ARCHIVES
generic viagra from canada pharmacybuy viagra with echeck - May 2010
viagra purchase 100 mg generic online viagra forum free viagra sample by mail cheapest online viagraBefore blogging became all the rage, Tom was posting book reviews and Observations (essentially early blog posts) to this site. You can find the archives below.
buy cheap viagra online from indiaWhat Tom's Reading Archives
buy cheap viagra online australia - September 2002
- September 1999 viagra price australia
how to buy real viagra onlineOBSERVATIONS ARCHIVES
- January 2002 generic viagra online uk
right now
What we're talking about
on the front page.