Emerson's Self-Reliance
Doing things you know are wrong, but still doing them because you don’t want to be the “loser.” Peer pressure has been an issue for many teens throughout the centuries. Ralph Waldo Emerson refers to his essay “Self-Reliance” as reason to stand up for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. You are in charge of your life and no one can take that away. For instance, Mr. Emerson clearly states in his text “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. Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense; for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost, — and our first thought is rendered back to us by the trumpets of the Last Judgment.”
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For instance, Emerson talks about how we are raised to make the “right” decisions, but then again, what are the “right” decisions? Emerson states, “They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side.” (Emerson online). In other words, Emerson is telling his readers that no matter what decision we make there is always going to be a crowd going against what we do. Another example of being independent is clearly stated when Emerson states the importance of being independent, “My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady” (Emerson Online). Easily interpreted, Emerson is telling his readers what it’s like to be independent and the ups and downs of it. Although being independent can have its downfalls, you will always learn from your mistakes. Most famously, Ralph Emerson’s quote “Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” (Emerson Online). The reason why the quote is so famous is because he is telling the reader the “push” they need to become independent. Restating Emerson’s words,, he’s trying to engage his readers that if we do not like our lives as it stands then we are entitled to make
For instance, Emerson talks about how we are raised to make the “right” decisions, but then again, what are the “right” decisions? Emerson states, “They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side.” (Emerson online). In other words, Emerson is telling his readers that no matter what decision we make there is always going to be a crowd going against what we do. Another example of being independent is clearly stated when Emerson states the importance of being independent, “My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady” (Emerson Online). Easily interpreted, Emerson is telling his readers what it’s like to be independent and the ups and downs of it. Although being independent can have its downfalls, you will always learn from your mistakes. Most famously, Ralph Emerson’s quote “Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” (Emerson Online). The reason why the quote is so famous is because he is telling the reader the “push” they need to become independent. Restating Emerson’s words,, he’s trying to engage his readers that if we do not like our lives as it stands then we are entitled to make