The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one’s self a fool; the truest heroism, is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when to be obeyed.” – Nathaniel 

Richard Hunt, "The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism, is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when to be obeyed."--Nathaniel , 1975, chromed and welded steel, 3250 5833 34 in. (81.3128.785.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.122

Artwork Details

Title
The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one’s self a fool; the truest heroism, is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when to be obeyed.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Blithedale Romance, 1852. From the series Great Ideas.
Artist
Date
1975
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
3250 5833 34 in. (81.3128.785.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Container Corporation of America
Mediums
Mediums Description
chromed and welded steel
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
  • Fantasy
  • Architecture — vehicle — bicycle
  • Allegory — quality — fortitude
Object Number
1984.124.122

Artwork Description

In 1975, Hunt was invited by the Container Corporation of America to create a sculpture for the Great Ideas project, a program that commissioned artists to interpret the writings of the world’s eminent thinkers. Hunt chose a passage from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Blithedale Romance (1852), as his title and theme. Intending to evoke the feelings generated by the lines beginning, “The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one’s self a fool,” Hunt explained that the sculpture’s wheel and open, boxlike structure suggest motion in restraint. The arms that project into space imply man’s striving for heroic deeds.


African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond, 2012

Works by this artist (21 items)

Richard Hunt, (Untitled), 1972, lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick P. Nause and Rebecca Nause, 1973.176.21
(Untitled)
Date1972
lithograph on paper
Not on view
Richard Hunt, Untitled #1, 1969, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick P. Nause and Rebecca Nause, 1972.104.10
Untitled #1
Date1969
lithograph
Not on view
Richard Hunt, (Untitled), 1972, lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick P. Nause and Rebecca Nause, 1973.176.16
(Untitled)
Date1972
lithograph on paper
Not on view
Richard Hunt, (Untitled), 1972, lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick P. Nause and Rebecca Nause, 1973.176.18
(Untitled)
Date1972
lithograph on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Robert Hudson, Maquette for Tlingit, 1979, welded steel, assembled and painted, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1980.49.18
Maquette for Tlingit
Date1979
welded steel, assembled and painted
Not on view
Bernard Rosenthal, T-Square, 1977-1978, cut and welded steel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Rubin, 1984.127
T‑Square
Date1977-1978
cut and welded steel
Not on view
Rod Rosebrook, Gate, ca. 1975, welded and painted iron and steel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.69
Gate
Dateca. 1975
welded and painted iron and steel
Not on view
Theodore Roszak, Thistle in the Dream (To Louis Sullivan), 1955-1956, cut and welded steel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.74
Thistle in the Dream (To Louis Sullivan)
Date1955-1956
cut and welded steel
Not on view