"We are a puny and fickle folk. Avarice, hesitation, and following are our diseases"

Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote is a reflection on the human condition. He is recommending that as a species, we are vulnerable to greed, indecision, and conformity. He implies that these characteristics are our weaknesses, and that they avoid us from reaching our complete potential. He is likewise recommending that these qualities are like diseases, in that they can spread and cause harm to ourselves and others. By acknowledging these weaknesses, we can strive to overcome them and progress people. Emerson's quote is a tip that we ought to aim to be much better than our weaknesses, which we should aim to be more than just a "puny and unpredictable folk".