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Ralph Waldo Emerson's Greatest Accomplishments

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“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”. these were the words of author Ralph Waldo Emerson, do you agree and if so then what makes you believe this bold statement. This indeed is the greatest accomplishment anyone could ever achieve, to be able to avoid temptations and new trends set by those around you and to be able to walk down your own individual path is worth much more than any worldly possession.

Think about a world in which everyone looked exactly the same everything on everyone’s face and body was exactly the same, the only thing that you could use to differentiate is the clothes on their bodies and their personalities. Now think back to how the world is now if the world were like the one just envisioned would most individuals be able to tell each other apart? In school when someone is walking next to over a thousand students would anyone be able to tell its them just by the clothes they wear and their personality? If this were the world we lived in the statement made previously by author Ralph Waldo Emerson stating that individualism is the greatest accomplishment, would be the goal that people would strive for to be able to be your own person not mistaken for another. …show more content…

In some countries people are forced to partake in certain jobs and are also forced to wear certain clothes that may not even enjoy wearing. Thats why living in America is such a privilege we get to pick and choose what we eat style one’s hair anyway they like and dress however they want, but people still choose to follow others trends other people's hair styles down to even what someone else may wear all this in spite of the fact that we can choose to be what we want to

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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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Ralph Waldo Emerson’s view of the individual was greatly affected by his life experiences. He grew up and even became a pastor in a Unitarian church, but was skeptical

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585 Words | 3 Pages

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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“ The truth is ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it.” If the whole society tries to figure out about the Great Truth they can know why individuality is a

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685 Words | 3 Pages

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance, he passionately expresses his views on individualism. Emerson’s views on individuality are views of following oneself’s own thoughts and passions, rather than fearing men and following the world. The speaker is successful in getting his point across with the use of allusions, anaphora, and thought triggering metaphors. As discussed previously, Emerson employs strong allusions of well known people to get his claim across, which is how important individuality is.

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314 Words | 2 Pages

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, asserted “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Throughout my high school career, I have always been an individual who follows. I relentlessly ask others “Are you going to the game tonight?” or “What are you wearing for the banquet?” I have never craved to stand out or do something out of the ordinary.

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The theme of the essay “Self Reliance” written by Emerson is for beings to not focus on those of others or subside his/her values to fit in with our society, for true geniuses comes from within and are made with their own heart and mind. His idea of self-reliance differs from that of the norm in that he doesn’t encourage those to mix into selfish ways but to be open and proud of their own individuality for that is the true key to life itself. Emerson’s idea is similar to the common use in that he encourages those to not depend on others to define his/her identity. 2. Emerson’s use of figurative language encourages his readers to view his ideas in a clearer and more emphasized perspective.

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In Emerson's views, people should “not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”(citation). Based on Emerson’s thoughts, people should not follow the crowd, but instead live their lives and leave their mark on the Earth. Emerson thoughts come from a philosophical movement of the nineteenth century called transcendentalism. Transcendentalism focuses on religious renewal, literary innovation, and social transformation (encyclopedia.com). Because of their belief that God exists in everyone and nature, and that knowledge comes from individual intuition, led to the highlight of individualism, self-reliance, and breaking free from traditions(citation).

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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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Days before Election Day we can’t know who will win the presidency. But we can know with near certainty that voter turnout will be abysmal and that the results will be not so much a mandate as a skewed sampling of about half the electorate. Many reforms could increase turnout, from same-day registration to voting on weekends. But the most basic is also the most appropriate: making voting mandatory. Here’s why.

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In all countries, religions, and cultures people are expected to live a certain way. For instance in puritan times people were expected to wear plain concealing clothing, and were supposed to live their lives by the bible. For example in the book “ The Scarlet Letter” Hester Prynne was shunned from society for committing adultery. In many ways people let society control who they are.

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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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Emerson believes self is spiritual and that your identity is found in your soul. He does not highlight the physical aspects of self, he instead just focuses on what is on the inside. Emerson states, “the soul raised over passion beholds identity and eternal causation, perceives the self-existence of Truth and Right, and calms itself with knowing that all things go well” (Emerson 29). Emerson is illustrating that the soul contains your identity, and therefore, your sense of self. Emerson is also explaining that the soul sees the truth, which Emerson believes is the key to living true to yourself as everyone is better off if they follow their own truths.

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1633 Words | 7 Pages

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman emphasize the importance of living true to yourself and developing complete self-acceptance. To live true to yourself and completely accept who you are, you must understand your identity and your sense of self. In Self-Reliance, Emerson explains that your identity and your sense of self is spiritual. Whitman argues, in Song of Myself, that your identity and sense of self is based on both your soul and your body. While both Emerson and Whitman allow for intimate connections and friendships, Emerson encourages people to have relationships with a select few, whereas Whitman encourages people to connect with everyone and anyone, due to their different views of self.

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