--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Foolish, whenever you take the meanness…" description: "\"Foolish, whenever you take the meanness and formality of that thing you do, instead of converting it into the obedient spiracle ofyour character and ai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_foolish-whenever-you-take-the-meanness-a_1308771.png" --- # Foolish, whenever you take the meanness and formality of… ![“Foolish, whenever you take the meanness and formality of that thing you do, instead of converting it into the obedient spiracle ofyour character and aims.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_foolish-whenever-you-take-the-meanness-a_1308771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_foolish-whenever-you-take-the-meanness-a_1308771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_foolish-whenever-you-take-the-meanness-a_1308771.png) > “Foolish, whenever you take the meanness and formality of that thing you do, instead of converting it into the obedient spiracle ofyour character and aims.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When we let harshness and rigidity dominate, we lose the chance to develop a flexible, authentic character. **In simple terms:** Avoid rigidness; be authentic. Key Takeaway Cultivate flexibility in character. Themes authenticity rigidity self‑development Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What habits make you rigid? - How can you transform strictness into openness? A Different Perspective Rigid attitudes can limit growth and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Meanness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanness/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Nature is a rag-merchant, who works up every shred and ort and end into new creations; like a good chemist, whom I found, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-is-a-rag-merchant-who-works-up-every-shred-and-ort-and-end/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Men of sense esteem wealth to be the assimilation of nature to themselves, the converting of the sap and juices of the planet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-of-sense-esteem-wealth-to-be-the-assimilation-of-nature-to/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Slavery is an institution for converting men into monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/slavery-is-an-institution-for-converting-men-into-monkeys/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Prayer as a means to effect a private end is theft and meanness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/prayer-as-a-means-to-effect-a-private-end-is-theft-and-meanness/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Lovers should guard their strangeness. If they forgive too much, all slides into confusion and meanness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/lovers-should-guard-their-strangeness-if-they-forgive-too-much-all/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There is always a certain meanness in the argument of conservatism, joined with a certain superiority in its fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-always-a-certain-meanness-in-the-argument-of-conservatism/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Prayer that craves a particular commodity—anything less than all good, is vicious. 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Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-tracy/) > [“In England I am always madam; I arrived too late to ever be a miss. In New York I have only been madamed once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/in-england-i-am-always-madam-i-arrived-too-late-to-ever-be-a-miss-in/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... 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Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. 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