Emerson's consistency

The American thinker and writer, Emerson (1803-1882) said "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." (Self-Reliance, Essays: First Series, 1841). It is sometimes pointed out that Emerson does not define 'foolish consistency', particularly as opposed to a wise consistency; but it seems to AWE that the fundamental point is that narrow, precise and nit-picking distinctions about things like consistency are one of the things that Emerson was anxious to avoid.

• And so we will leave Emerson's advice as it stands. Do not give consistency the priority over good (that is clear) writing. Communication comes first.