In his work, Self Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, “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.” Pps. 122-123
NOTE: The great herd tries its best to conform and make sure what it says conforms to what the herd wants it to say. Researchers point out that the greatest ideas and innovations come from the edges. They come from people who do not conform to the herd but intuitively listen to a different voice. If you’re feeling an internal conflict, it may be time to think about leaving the herd mentality and walking to edge.