Essays
"Self-Reliance"
Man is his own star; and the soul that can
Render an honest and a perfect man,
Commands all light, all influence, all fate;
Nothing to him falls early or too late;
Our acts our angels are, or good or ill,
Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.
(Epilogue to Beaumont and Fletcher's Honest Man's Fortune.)
Emerson urges his readers to follow their individual will instead of conforming to social expectations.
This requires belief in your own thought in decision-making and identification of the truth, for your truth is the truth for all. This means thinking for yourself and trusting your own thoughts. You should realize that imitation is false. You have no obligation to others except for those with whom you have a "spiritual affinity". Conformity in a few particulars is the same as in all - to be self-reliant requires non-conformity.
Emerson draws on examples of historical geniuses—such as Plato and Milton—in arguing for the importance of individualism.
The great thinkers of the ages thought for themselves. For each individual there is no need to fear consistency unless it is a foolish consistency - trust your own emotion. This includes obedience to "the eternal law" namely, be yourself.
Emerson posits the effects of self-reliance: altering religious practices, encouraging Americans to stay at home rather than looking toward Europe and the old world and developing their own culture - focusing on individual rather than societal progress.
This means living life for yourself, focusing on what concerns you and not others. One should remember the value of maintaining solitude for oneself even when in the midst of a crowd. It is being genuine in your actions for then they will not require any explanation. The essence of virtue and the life of spontaneity is found in your intuition. The emphasis is on the importance of going alone - in a spiritual sense – and in relying on one's own soul. Trusting one's own self is difficult, but necessary to avoid the failings of ordinary society.
Concluding he observes the necessity of an American culture of self-reliance. Noting that “Contemplation of life from the highest view” and rejection of regret is the essence of prayer.
6 comments:
it's been a long time since i read these, but i recall resenting them a bit... he just made everything sound so simple; but maybe it was, comparatively... back then, anyway...
I love this essay. I agree with a lot of it. But even things that I disagree with are interesting.
Living and thinking for oneself is so important. What is written here is at least worth contemplating.
Never harder, nor more important, advice to consider today when social media make a hive-mind possible.
mudpuddle,
His comments do seem simple while his metaphors soar. It sounds like preaching and some do not appreciate that attitude.
Brian,
I react to his essay in a similar way. But while I disagree with some of his comments, it is hard to disagree with advice like "be yourself".
Stephen,
I agree that much of his advice is very timely.
Post a Comment