Rhetorical Devices In Self Reliance

In the excerpt, "Self-Reliance" written by American writer, speaker, and key figure in the Transcendentalist movement Ralph Waldo Emerson, the ideas of intuition, independence, and inherent goodness in humans and nature are promoted. Throughout the excerpt, Emerson emphasizes that by being self-reliant and avoiding conformity, you will transform into a better version of yourself. People must follow their conscience and reject the opinions of society to reach self-actualization when an individual reaches his or her potential. In the final paragraph of the excerpt, Emerson writes: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." What does this mean for you? Emerson reveals that