Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance Analysis

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“Trust Thyself,” these are Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quintessential words in Self-Reliance. Self-Reliance is an epic essay on individualism that embodies transcendentalism – a philosophical movement that aims for its followers to aspire to original, honest, and virtuous thoughts among other belief in nature and unity of spirits. One scholar, Alan Hodder wrote about the essay, it is “arguably America 's most famous essay” and “Despite the passage of time, this essay has never lost its power to inspire or to enrage” (423). The ideals of an individual are the foremost concern though. Emerson’s ideal of an individual is essentially the belief of genius in oneself. He calls for individuals to have free thoughts and struggle to overcome the shackles of captive thought and subservience. Emerson further writes of philosophical musings to that which we all came from, and of the divine truths that are timeless and inherent in the essence of humanity. Emerson’s message of individual value is a glorious and inspiring message. He had these thoughts in a time when the only opinions …show more content…

Emerson writes, “I suppose no man can violate his nature.” Given this, people should not establish a comfortable rut where the same tasks and chores are done to mindless ends. Emerson also writes, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin minds.” Consistency is relegation to insignificance. Opportunities to broaden the mind are lost. Ultimately, if people fail to go outside the established boundaries, then their lives will not change and nothing will differentiate them from the populace. To quote the brilliant 20th century scientist Albert Einstein, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Such a person bound to consistency has no more value than an insect which only function serves to live a non-sentient existence and reproduce further happenstance

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