Conversation

I was curious about the specific imagery in the Emerson quote: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." Why hobgoblins I wondered. Apparently because they do randomly do your household chores? Why??
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And looks like JK Rowling got the name for her house elf Dobby from hobgoblin lore, but made them slaves and inverted the clothing thing. Did not know.
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Why would folklore arise around invisible anti-entropy consistency forces? It’s like the opposite of gremlins. I’m really curious now. Clearly Emerson did not choose his words casually. Hobgoblins do seem associated with consistency tasks (ironing, dusting… ordering effects)
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Hidden thing, mostly in your service, but with a capriciousness that causes trouble? Seems an appropriate metaphor for that sort of brain bug, if your culture had that definition fresh to mind. (D&D and comics did confuse this for me in my youth. "Consistency is violent? Evil?")
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