--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of…" description: "\"“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of feeble minds”\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg" --- # A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of feeble minds ![“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of feeble minds” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg) > ““A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of feeble minds”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blindly following habits limits growth; flexibility fosters progress. **In simple terms:** Avoid rigid consistency. Key Takeaway Embrace adaptable thinking. Themes flexibility growth creativity Mood reflective philosophical Type inspirational cautionary When to use this quote - personal development - creative work - problem solving - leadership Key Concepts consistency mindset change Questions to Reflect On - When have you clung to a bad habit? - How can you balance consistency and flexibility? A Different Perspective Too much change can cause instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) [Consistency Hobgoblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency-hobgoblin-1025054/) [Feeble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeble/) [Feeble minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeble-minds-62579/) [Foolish Consistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish-consistency-1025053/) [Hobgoblin Feeble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobgoblin-feeble-2933284/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-adored-by-3/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-adored-by-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-adored-by/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Only feeble minds are paralyzed by facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/only-feeble-minds-are-paralyzed-by-facts/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [ “\[Voltaire\] was generally unbedeviled by any foolish consistency.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/voltaire-was-generally-unbedeviled-by-any-foolish-consistency/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [“Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [The first complete sentence out of my mouth was probably that line about consistency being the hobgoblin of small minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/the-first-complete-sentence-out-of-my-mouth-was-probably-that-line/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [The need for a rational consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-need-for-a-rational-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-small-minds/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-said-before-the-most-beautiful-and-most-profound-religious-emotion/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Teaching is the last refuge of feeble minds with a classical education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/teaching-is-the-last-refuge-of-feeble-minds-with-a-classical-education/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [A feeble mind, conscious of its own feebleness, grows feeble under that very consciousness. As soon as the power of fear becomes known to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/a-feeble-mind-conscious-of-its-own-feebleness-grows-feeble-under-that/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [“Leaving the world behind is the best experience most feeble minds fear to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/leaving-the-world-behind-is-the-best-experience-most-feeble-minds/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Superstition is the religion of feeble minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/superstition-is-the-religion-of-feeble-minds/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Feeble minds are tamed,great minds always conquer..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-r-shankar/feeble-minds-are-tamed-great-minds-always-conquer/) [I.R. Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-r-shankar/) > [Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but law, morality and leadership demand it. Without consistency, there is privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/consistency-may-be-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-but-law-morality-and/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Consistency quotes > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [One things guys have to remember is consistency... You can't make up for three years of eating poorly in just one workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/one-things-guys-have-to-remember-is-consistency-you-can-t-make-up-for/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I give you everything you want as an artist, for so long. Consistency. Wordplay. Wittiness. You can check the checklist. Only thing I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/i-give-you-everything-you-want-as-an-artist-for-so-long-consistency/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [I have always wanted to learn the piano, but because I travel so much, I can never get any consistency of lessons. So everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/i-have-always-wanted-to-learn-the-piano-but-because-i-travel-so-much/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [There's always, I guess, a philosophy that if you come in, you want to change all the parts, you want to change everything over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/there-s-always-i-guess-a-philosophy-that-if-you-come-in-you-want-to/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) > [But change must always be balanced with some degree of consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-d-burton/but-change-must-always-be-balanced-with-some-degree-of-consistency/) [Ron D. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-d-burton/) > [“Strong trust is built brick by brick, through honesty, consistency, and showing up even when it’s hard to keep the promise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayoub-imilouane/strong-trust-is-built-brick-by-brick-through-honesty-consistency-and/) [Ayoub Imilouane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayoub-imilouane/) > [I like the consistency of a TV show, but I like it for three months out of my year, not nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-mack/i-like-the-consistency-of-a-tv-show-but-i-like-it-for-three-months/) [Allison Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-mack/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, whenever you find yourself putting forth great effort without success, you're trying to force something that won't fit under the circumstances. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-vigorito/so-whenever-you-find-yourself-putting-forth-great-effort-without/) [Tony Vigorito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-vigorito/) > [To me, style is consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/to-me-style-is-consistency/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [About 120 million of us place the big bang 2,500 years after the Babylonians and Sumerians learned to brew beer. If our polls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/about-120-million-of-us-place-the-big-bang-2-500-years-after-the/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [I've learned over the years that when it comes to success, consistency is key. Consistent hard work that we may not like doing today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-when-it-comes-to-success-consistency/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Consistency of performance is essential. You don't have to be exceptional every week but as a minimum you need to be at a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/consistency-of-performance-is-essential-you-don-t-have-to-be/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) [Browse all 866 Consistency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of feeble minds”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-feeble-minds/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consistency" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-feeble-minds/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/henry-david-thoreau-20_consistency_a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-o_308552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of feeble minds” — Henry David Thoreau", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-feeble-minds/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-feeble-minds/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```