From "Self-Reliance"

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at theWhy does Emerson make such a sweeping generalization here? How might the tone of this text have changed if he had written "in some men's education"? convictionfirm belief that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him toWhy does Emerson make such a sweeping generalization here? How might the tone of this text have changed if he had written "in some men's education"? tillplow land to get it ready for seeding. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact, makes much impression on him, and another none. This sculpture in the memory is not without preestablished harmony. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of that particular ray. We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifestapparent by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace.Put this idea into your own words. What is Emerson saying here? It is aHere, Emerson is saying that a lack of good work is like a promise that is only half kept. In not completing heartfelt work, person does not live up to his or her potential genius. deliverancesalvation; liberation which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope.Here, Emerson is saying that a lack of good work is like a promise that is only half kept. In not completing heartfelt work, person does not live up to his or her potential genius.

an old man reading a large book, looking thoughtful The Hermit, by Salomon Koninck

"In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope."

Trust thyself:How does this command demonstrate Emerson's belief in the importance of the individual? every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominatingleading in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark.

. . . Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is aDoes Emerson seem to approve or disapprove of society in this metaphor? joint-stock companya business in which members own shares of the company, and all members are responsible for the company's debts, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater.Does Emerson seem to approve or disapprove of society in this metaphor? The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversionan object of dislike or repulsion; a feeling of dislike or repulsion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformistone who refuses to abide by established norms and customs. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolveto pardon; to release from blame you to yourself, and you shall have the suffragevote of the world. I remember an answer which when quite young I was prompted to make to a valued adviser, who was wont to importuneto bother; harass me with the dear old doctrines of the church. On my saying, What have I to do with the sacredness of traditions, if I live wholly from within? my friend suggested,--"But these impulses may be from below, not from above." I replied, "They do not seem to me to be such; but if I am the Devil's child, I will live then from the Devil." No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.What aspect of transcendentalism is demonstrated in this paragraph? Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. . . .

Virtues are, in the popular estimate, rather the exception than the rule. There is the man and his virtues. Men do what is called a good action, as some piece of courage or charity, much as they would pay a fine in expiationthe act of making atonement or reparations of daily non-appearance on parade. Their works are done as an apology or extenuationthe act of being lessened in severity of their living in the world,--as invalids and the insane pay a high board. Their virtues are penances. I do not wish to expiate, but to live. My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady.. . .

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduousdifficult to accomplish in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meannesshumble; lacking in distinction or greatness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.Emerson advocates learning to care only about one's own opinion, even as others are offering theirs. Do you agree that this is an ideal way to live? Why or why not?

a painting of philosophers and writers from ancient Greece discussing and debating ideas School of Athens, by Raphael

"To be great is to be misunderstood."

The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loathunwilling to disappoint them.

But why should you keep your head over your shoulder? Why drag about this corpse of your memory, lestfor fear that you contradict somewhat you have stated in this or that public place? Suppose you should contradict yourself; what then? . . .

A foolish consistency is theWhy does Emerson call consistency "foolish"? hobgoblinsomething that causes superstitious fear of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and Why does Emerson call consistency "foolish"?divinesclergy. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. "Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood." Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newtonfamed contributors to religion, philosophy, and science, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.Emerson wrote this essay in 1841. What great people since that time might be said to have been misunderstood?