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. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — ‘Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.’ — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
And I thought it was because I had trouble communicating…(k)
naaaah!
This I understand. It reminds me of a quote I heard awhile ago, by a contemporary artist. If everyone likes your work, you are playing it safe. Something to that effect. Thank you for this share.
💝 Michele 💝
appreciate knowing that being misunderstood is so commonplace 🙂
good to know you are safe, those poor families in the high rise!
Yeah, it’s pretty horrible 😦
But we’re safe, Kate – where we live in Jerusalem it looks like life as usual.
❤
David
better you than me David, I don’t do ‘violence’ very well at all!
I don’t ‘do’ violence either, Kate, but we all have to make the best with what we’ve got 🤷♂️
so sad that we can’t abide in peace … live and let live … violence means nobody wins and we must all hang our heads in shame …
Love that! Thanks for sharing.
Also, it reminds me of Walt Whitman’s “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes”
Yes – that’s an amazing quote too! Spot on 🙂
Thank you,
David
I see his point. But the reason for changing one’s mind needs to be taken into account. It is not wise or pure to change one’s mind because of corruption or bribery. It is not wise or pure to be misunderstood because one deliberately obfuscates. I am, of course, thinking of people in power. But I agree that changing one’s mind should not be immediately criticised. There are occasions where it IS noble and humble to do so and it seems the media deliberately misunderstands when those occasions are.
Well, to be fair, Worms, it’s hard for a wise quote to capture every single possible facet of potential reality 😀
Ok. Fair enough. 🙂. Maybe I was just grumpy at 4am.
🙃
Ah yes, this is it! Isn’t it. Every dang day, if we’re so lucky, David… every dang day. :)) xoxo 💖
It just goes to show how dang great you are!
Ha! You are truly sweet David. :)) Muah. xx
Legends in our own minds! Scorned by the masses. Such is our existence. But will our stories ever be known? Maybe someday. You hear me Socrates?! Don’t drink!
heheheh!
I am definitely misunderstood. The funny thing is the older I get the less I care. Stay safe over there.
Molly, we’re safe – in our area of Jerusalem, it’s life as usual – preschool, work, etc.
Thank you,
David
I’m glad to hear you’re safe. I was thinking about you too.
thanks!
I glad to hear that. On the evening news it looked like the entire country of Isreal was under attack.
I just wrote a bit about this, Molly –
Ah, that makes me feel better that I’m often misunderstood. 🙂
me too 🙃