How Is Emerson Successful

For example, in Self-Reliance, Emerson discusses the importance of an individual’s resistance to conforming to social norms. Listing the several benefits of non-conformity, he surmises that accepting public opinion as one’s own ultimately leads to the wasting of one’s life. He further stresses the importance of non-conformity through great figures such as Socrates, Jesus, Galileo, and Newton, all who were initially ridiculed for their innovative ideas and perspectives on the surrounding world. Furthermore, he notes that any apparent inconsistency will ultimately be consistency when examined on a life-long scale. All of the fluctuations, when viewed on a larger scale, will depict an average tendency. He concludes that our individual natures allow us to combat false consistency, as well as conformity, and allow us to become self-reliant--to be able to express autonomy over our individual

"In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, - no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space, - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God."

1. The main theme of the piece “Self-Reliance” is that one should never conform to the way that society views that they should because in doing that, a person loses their individuality. Emerson believed that a person should, “Speak [their] latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense,” meaning that if a person chooses to march to the beat of their own drum, then nobody can tell them their opinion is wrong because at least they are taking a chance and speaking their mind. Emerson’s definition of self-reliance is similar to the common use because both definitions discuss how one should take care of personal needs and be independent. Emerson himself stated that, “the great man is he who

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character." This quote is a belief that your beliefs show innermost self. Emerson believes that your thoughts and ideas of the world reflect your true self. I agree that your mental outlook of the world is a representation of your real character. Regardless of whether or not you expressed those thoughts and ideas out loud, they still show your true colors. Opinions are just another way of showing the world who you really are. Your attitude on the certain topics and people, marks your stance on the world and show your true beliefs.

Emerson explains, “He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness” (3). In more words, a nonconformist would not revert to society’s claims of what is “good” or bad. Instead, nonconformists would explore themselves if something is right or wrong. Overall, becoming self-reliant means that people need to rely on their own thoughts and ideas by becoming a

his profession as a pastor in search for vital truth and hope. But his father

In "Self-Reliance" Emerson talks about being disgusted by society. He believed that the individual mind, body, and spirit trumps society. According to the text, one of the reasons many flee from self-reliance to the comforting society of custom and tradition, is because of the need to appear consistent in the eyes of others. Every individual has a network of drives, beliefs, attitudes and desires, and are forever changing and developing. To stay true to this inner law means we need to be faithful to this character we hold, and contracdict

     Emerson’s writing focused on nonconformity and individuality. In his essay "Self-Reliance," he wrote, "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind," and, "Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist."

After reading Emerson’s essay, I noticed a big difference between him and the rest of narratives we read. Emerson believed in being independent, and not being influenced by anything and anyone around you. He assumed that the mind’s primary theme is an unhappy conformism. In his essay “Self-Reliance”, he focused on his catch-phrase "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string " (Emerson, 270).

Ralph Waldo Emerson							I am writing this essay on the beliefs and thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the subjects of individuality, society, government, technology, and spirituality.

Emerson believes that conformity turns men’s lives into a lie. Conformist men act other characters and do not represent their actual point of view. They are willing to be untrue to themselves just because they are influenced by the majority. Emerson says that it is effortless to be a conformist human and to live after the opinion of the majority and those people are no true men. Who wants to be “a man, must be a nonconformist (pg.56).”

“If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself,” the old cliche goes. The Romantic period of the mid nineteenth century proclaimed that the way to success was to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and get to work. In America, anything is possible, just as long as one is willing to put forth that effort to achieve that goal. Two American texts discuss this idea, the Transcendentalist work “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson and the pre-modernist short story, “Bartleby the Scrivener” by Herman Melville. Emerson proclaims that everything one needs is inside one’s own mind; Melville supports yet contorts this idea through the exhausting stone-walling of Bartleby.

Ralph Waldo Emerson resembles a Transcendentalist thinker because of common belief of individualism. When addressing society and it’s values, Emerson comments, “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore it be goodness” (Self Reliance, 551). Emerson explains that if a man acts as a nonconformist, then he can explore new things that would otherwise be restricted. Being free from societies limitations is proves to be the principle idea of individualism, which this analogy clearly reflects. As Emerson explains the role of God and self-confidence in life, he adds, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place divine providence has found for you” (Self Reliance, 550). If everyone were to fully follow what their heart tells them to do, they would find joy and happiness in their life. A second principle of Transcendentalist individualism, independence, makes itself present as Emerson stresses the following of one’s heart. As he explains the journey of a man through education, Emerson concludes that everyman eventually learns “Envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion”

The definition of a school according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is “an organization that provides instruction.” This definition does not define what a good school is though. In order to determine what a good school is you must have a standard for comparison. In the eyes of Emerson I imagine a good school would be defined by having a copious amount of both free will and free thought, individuality, involvement of nature, and the incorporation of becoming self-reliant. Emerson would wish for his students to be eleutheromaniac, to be able to use teleology, and to not be fully reliant upon technology. Using Emerson’s beliefs to create a school causes me to address many topics; sports, extracurricular activities, classes, organizations, where the power is held, days off of school, disciplinary actions, the rules, the daily structure, a grading scale, and even what food/drinks would be offered within the school.

For instance, Emerson's’ statement, “[a man] must be nonconformist” (Emerson par. 1) could be backed up by Romans 12:2a, which states “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our lives, thoughts, and actions should not be influenced by the world’s views and beliefs, or even by what we think, as Emerson says in his essay. But, instead, we should be moulded by what Christ says, according to Deuteronomy 5:33, “Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days…” Along the same lines, Emerson says, “but the great man who in the midst of a crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” (Emerson Par. 2) Through Christ’s power, we are able to live inside the world, but not assimilate to it.