Q 01/05

In Emerson's Self-Reliance, a foolish consistency adored by statesmen and divines is the hobgoblin of what?

A) Timid hearts

B) Little minds

C) Small nations

D) Idle scholars

Answer · why

B) Little minds

Little minds cling to yesterday's opinions, Emerson argues, while a great soul speaks its conviction today even if that contradicts everything it said...

Q 02/05

According to Emerson's Self-Reliance, whoever would be a man must be what?

A) A philanthropist

B) A patriot

C) A nonconformist

D) A scholar

Answer · why

C) A nonconformist

A nonconformist, for Emerson, must not be hindered by the name of goodness but must explore for himself whether it really is goodness.

Q 03/05

In Emerson's Self-Reliance, Socrates, Jesus, Galileo and Newton show that to be great is to be what?

A) Misunderstood

B) Feared by kings

C) Self-taught

D) Imitated

Answer · why

A) Misunderstood

Misunderstood, Emerson notes, was the fate of Pythagoras, Luther and Copernicus too, so the fear of it is no reason to hide a change of heart.

Q 04/05

In Emerson's Self-Reliance, every man's education brings the conviction that envy is ignorance and imitation is what?

A) Flattery

B) Slavery

C) Theft

D) Suicide

Answer · why

D) Suicide

Suicide is Emerson's word for copying others, because each person must take himself for better or worse and till the one plot of ground given to him.

Q 05/05

In Emerson's Self-Reliance, every heart vibrates to what when it hears the command to trust thyself?

A) That iron string

B) That silver bell

C) That golden chord

D) That distant drum

Answer · why

A) That iron string

That iron string sounds in every heart, Emerson writes, and great men have always answered it by accepting the place divine providence found for them.