A sect or party is an elegant incognito devised to save a man from the vexation of thinking.

Summary

This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that belonging to a sect or party provides an individual with a convenient disguise that shields them from the challenge of engaging in independent thinking. By aligning with a specific group, one can avoid the discomfort and effort involved in critically examining ideas or forming original thoughts. It implies that sects or parties offer a ready-made set of beliefs, relieving individuals of having to confront the complexities of thought and giving them a sense of security in their intellectual laziness.