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Post by brandonina on Mar 9, 2013 9:56:30 GMT -5
I was just looking back to what we discussed about Julius Caesar in class. Ms.Boyd emphasized the importance of a certain quote, which was "That I was constant Cimber should be banished, And constant do remain to keep him so." It was the final test for the conspirators to test whether Caesar is a tyrant or not. Conspirators believe that his a tyrant and is completely overwhelmed by his public self.
Then Ms. Boyd connected this quote with transcendentalist Emerson's "foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." I don't quite remember what exactly the quote meant. But I think she was saying how people tend to follow their beliefs that are shaped by the majority of the society and not listen to their own, real instincts that might supposedly go against the society. Transcendentalists are definitely self-reliant and aware of themselves. Please correct me if you disagree!
I personally think listening to your instinct and fighting against the "hobogoblin" is what rare and hard. I think this can connect to society nowadays. I really think that when people choose what they want to be in the future, they are often swayed by what others or majority thinks is the best just to please everyone around them and whatever the cause is. For example, people would choose occupations such as CEO, lawyer, or whatever seems "good." Some lawyers and CEO's have definite goals in their lives and chose their paths just because they told themselves they want to. I respect people who follow their instincts and beliefs no matter how challenging they might be to hold on. And it's hard to do that. And I think one of the goals in life is to recognize yourself and going with it no matter how scared what other people might say to you. Homosexuality is great example. I honestly think that I would feel uncomfortable with people with homosexuality but I would surely respect people who can say that they are in the public (no joke). What do you guys think?
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Post by woojongpark on Mar 10, 2013 0:28:09 GMT -5
I don't understand the meaning of the quote either, but I thought it meant like people need to distinguish the difference between "unreasonably consistent" and "rightfully consistent" and use that to follow their principles. For example, Caesar was unreasonable in justifying his consistency when he said Cimber should be banished because he rationalized his decision by saying "I can not be moved because I shouldn't be." I don't know if this is right, so I want to hear your opinions as well.
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Post by |Ruchira| on Mar 10, 2013 2:30:44 GMT -5
Hello
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Post by yeajinchoi on Mar 10, 2013 3:06:15 GMT -5
I think that the quote explained how stupid it is to be consistent with your decisions for the sake of being consistent. We related that to Caesar's characteristics of a tyrant when he denied to free Cimber because he already made up his mind and he couldn't change because he wanted to be consistent.
With your connection to our society today with homosexuality, I disagree that people who express that they are homosexual are transcendentalists. I think that's more of a desire than the belief. It's not something they can change so easily. I think transcendentalists have a choice between personal and public opinion but homosexuality isn't really a choice. That's just my opinion.... haha
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james
Full Member
Posts: 129
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Post by james on Mar 10, 2013 6:20:51 GMT -5
The meaning of the quote is that even though you know something is wrong, you keep on saying it is right just because you've said it before. Although, you actually changed your mind to something else. I don't know if I described well enough for you guys to understand. So.. For example, I support nuclear reactor because it is extremely helpful. However, later on, I change my mind because I think it is extremely dangerous. But I'm keep on saying that I'm supporting the nuclear reactor because I've said it before although I actually changed my mind inside. This is what I know haha..
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Post by jooyoungpark on Mar 11, 2013 5:13:58 GMT -5
In my opinion the quote means that, even though keeping your word, keeping promise, staying true, and constant is nice. One can change if the heart follows it, if you no longer truly believe in the constancy that you swore to, than you can change. People's minds can change and it is not bad, for the greater good, one can change their minds, I think that is the main point of this quote.
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Post by lukejoo1092 on Mar 11, 2013 8:42:17 GMT -5
I think what she was pointing out from the quote was that Caesar is simply not freeing Cimber because he said that he won't free him before. Although it might be that he still doesn't want to free him but if he did, then we can tell that he is simply going against his own opinion because he's afraid and embarrassed to take back his own opinion of before. He doesn't want to be seen as a man easily swayed by public opinion and who can't be decisive. It's kinda funny though because he's already admitting that he is swayed easily by public opinion observing that he is really concerned about what the public thinks of him. Caesar is clearly a guy who cares about how people see him too much. He should be able to be a bit more flexible and open which he sadly fails to do and dies.
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Post by deeksha on Mar 12, 2013 6:37:28 GMT -5
Hello!! guys
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Post by crystal on Mar 14, 2013 2:18:40 GMT -5
Julius Caesar is one of the great king,but who knows whether he was ambitious . Everyone will change their mind because some advice , just how much different will change.
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Post by sergeyfen on Mar 17, 2013 6:59:22 GMT -5
I think that quote explains that being consistent and follow the same belief every time wont work. I personally think that you should have your opinion and instinct on the first place, because you have to choose what you like not what other people say, i mean you have to kind of listen what other people suggest but at the end you got to make your own decision which you think fits you the best. For ex. when you choose your profession you have to listen to yourself not to others because you dont want to go to work that you hate and have no interest at all, instead you want to wake up each morning and be happy for what you are.
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Post by ExtremelyExtremeExtremist on Mar 17, 2013 9:06:56 GMT -5
I think that the quote means that we should change our opinions when we feel they are wrong or unreasonable. Caesar claimed he will not release Cimber and he never changed his opinion because he said he want to be consistent and was afraid citizens will think he¡¯s fickle. It says on sparknote that the conspirators¡¯ demand of freeing Cimber was the last test to decide whether to kill Caesar or not. If he changed his mind he would¡¯ve survived.
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Post by JustinK. on Mar 18, 2013 4:45:27 GMT -5
i remember ms Boyd talking about going against what the society thinks it right. Transcendentalism is trusting your own instincts and your opinion. Sometimes what you think is right might be the same for what the society thinks, but when your thoughts counters what the majority thinks, you should just follow your instincts. Im not sure how this can be connected to Caesar, but heres my guess. Caesar is being transcendental by just staying constant about his decision to banish Cimber since it is what Caesar had said before.
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gb1708
Junior Member
Posts: 85
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Post by gb1708 on Mar 18, 2013 6:44:23 GMT -5
I don't understand the quote either but i have a connection about what are you talking? Lady Gaga's style of fashion was very strange and not acceptable in people's eyes in the past. But, she liked to wearing like that and still follow what she wanted. And today, people recognize her style of fashion are beautiful,...
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Post by nadiraamalina on Mar 21, 2013 5:56:27 GMT -5
I think Emerson's quote is basically a more flowery and less cliche form of listen to your heart. I think that that quote is something that all of us should apply to our lives. Plus, it has a connection to one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Pride. When we are foolishly consistent, we're only doing it out of pride, because, really, it sucks to admit that you're wrong.
And frankly if you admit that you're wrong early on, then you won't be dragged into this snowball of lies involved with being foolishly consistent. It's better to just get a small cut to your pride early on, rather than a great massive wound after a long time of being foolishly consistent.
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Post by esther on Mar 26, 2013 9:18:28 GMT -5
I think the quote is saying that it is up to you to choose, but you shouldn't change your mind just because the society does. It means to stick with your idea. I agree with this too. This is also risky because what you think might actually be wrong, but i believe being different is being special.
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