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Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes Essay

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Matthew Selby Mrs. Matt English 11/Am. Lit 7 February 2024 Emerson Quote Ralph Waldo Emerson was a known philosopher, poet, and transcendentalist. He was especially well known for his quotes on self-reliance with themes of transcendentalism. One of the quotes that resonates with me is, “What I should do is everything that worries me, not what people think”. Emerson’s transcendental views are seen through this quote because transcendentalism goes against what society would consider normal or of importance. Furthermore, this quote can be broken down even further in depth. In transcendentalism, worrying about what others think is not of concern at all. One of the ways that the world may be different is the affairs of materialistic possessions. …show more content…

Another concern of the world that would not be a problem for Emerson is how many activities he is involved with compared to others. In society, it’s very common for people to be busy for nearly all of their lives and have many affairs, but with individualistic ideas like Emerson's, it is more important to do things that truly matter instead of activities that take away from the simplicity of life. The principal breakdown of this quote is the concern about the thoughts of other people. What I think Emerson was trying to display with this quote is that no matter what others thought about him, he was going to do what he needed to do to improve himself and the only worry he should have is whether or not he is doing all he can. In agreement with Emerson, I can apply this principle to my life and use it to better myself. In my opinion, Emerson’s quote is the perfect example of the mindset one should live their life with. Concern about other’s opinions or thoughts has been something that I have struggled with in the past, and I just recently started changing my mindset about what others

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Emerson believed that one can’t be themselves if they did conform, as conforming was almost like copying another person’s image in Emerson’s eyes. In this essay, he states that it’s important to believe in your own ideas in order to be a genius. “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,- that is genius” (Emerson, 19) Nonconformity continues to be a very common theme, as Emerson relates nonconformity to infants. “Infancy conforms to nobody: all conform to it, so that the babe commonly makes four or five out of the adults who prattle and play to it” (Emerson,

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Emerson also wrote about change. He believed that if one wanted to change they could, all they had to do was change their thoughts, attitude, and perspective. Emerson wrote, “If we live truly, we

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One of such maxims is “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” This maxim, while ironically mocking the hold of religion upon the society of the time, also serves to display Emerson’s values on the originality of one’s thoughts. In literal translation, the maxim states, “The only sacred thing

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The third maxim by Ralph Waldo Emerson is "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. " Emerson is saying that one's open honesty is importantly treasured. One's honesty is more important than following other people's beliefs. The maxim embodies the theme that people respect others' honesty more than emotionless obedience to conventions set forth by someone else.

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Emerson states one of his maxim as "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind". The following maxim means that one should not succumb to what society wants you to be but instead, one should follow their own path. A universal theme relating to this maxim can be perceived as human beings should follow their own way, mindset, or their sense of intuitive feeling. This maxim and its concept relates to the book,"The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail," by Emerson, which came from the Transcendentalism Era.

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In the Piece “Self-reliance” written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the most influential writers in America, speaking to the individual about being true to who people are, and not who society expects people to be. He explores the concept that greatness is achieved by rising above the average person; making one’s thoughts extraordinary, instead of just ordinary. He uses strategies such as metaphors, personification, syntax, and more, to shine a light on his purposeful perspective. Emerson applies divine figurative language to express the importance of being who people are when he remarks, “Always the soul hears an admonition in such lines […]” (1) Here he is depicting the image that people are supposed to listen to their hearts and souls, because that is their direction. Warning and counsel comes from within, and listening to that voice is what distinguishes an ordinary person, from an extraordinary one, taking that leap from society, and into the life of the individual, where people listen to

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As a grownup and an adult for that matter, one cannot be like others one has learned from. One should not make efforts to live like ones’ parents, teachers or elders in our society. One must strive to be one ’s own true self. Emerson is convincing that nonconformity is genius.

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He is trying to get his audience to realize how vital self-reliance is in order to truly live your life. He tells his readers that “great works of art…teach [one] to abide by [their] spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side. Else, to-morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what [they] have thought and felt all the time, and [they] shall be forced to take with shame [their] own opinion from another.” In short, Emerson is saying that if one does not listen to their own thoughts and express them, then their opinion seems unoriginal and “[taken] with shame [their] own opinion from another”. He wants his readers to take a stand and state their opinion, to not be afraid, to stand up for themselves.

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In the first paragraph, Emerson introduces explosive diction that is self- absorbed and determining at the same time. The idea of people should think for themselves is immediately instilled at the start with word words that are grasping when one reads them. Some textual examples that are found in Emerson's essay are "influence," "yourself," and "pre-established" , these words help Emerson send out his message to the audience. When Emerson says "Trust thyself…self -reliance… be a non -conformist" helps connect to the ideas of transcendentalists. This in turn makes them more likely to agree with Emerson.

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The song “Brave,” by Sara Bareilles strongly relates to this quote by Emerson. Throughout this song there are many lyrics that go along with the Transcendentalism philosophy. For example, when Sara says, “You can be amazing… you can be the outcast… or you can start speaking up.” This relates back to Transcendentalism because they highly believe in being able to be yourself and not let other people bring you down. By being amazing, you need to speak what you believe and not care what society thinks.

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Emerson believes that being a follower, and going with the flow of things could be what ruins a person true identity.

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Emerson emphasizes, “what I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think... It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion... but the great man is he who

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This essay, Self-Reliance, is very insightful for its time, and many of the themes written are still relevant today. These allusions used here were put together to further explain his main point on trusting one’s genius. This ignites people to become brave, and trust themselves more, rather than being afraid of their own thoughts and mind. After reading, people may even embrace their thoughts and run with their genius. Emerson again backs up his original statement, but instead uses analogy to express how society rejects individuality, but you must be brave enough to be your own part of this group.

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