I am re-reading “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is widely considered one of the best essays ever written.

I saw in the essay this famous expression: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”

Emerson argues that integrity requires us to do as we think best, regardless of what we have said or done in the past, and regardless of what others do and think.

He wants us to think for ourselves and to rely on ourselves. He says that independence is the path to authenticiy and to greatness — like Socrates and Galileo.

Because I hope to create as much as I can this year, the essay speaks to me. It may have value to you too. Here is a link to it:

https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/emerson/essays/selfreliance.html

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