(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Self Reliance


            "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson has changed the way I view and make my decisions. Self reliant means you do not need to depend on anyone. Emerson writes "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men- is genius." This quote is very simply put. To me the quote means believe in yourself and your decisions and not worry about what others may think. Emerson also writes "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." This quote as well as the first try to depict the point of self reliance and individualism. When Emerson says nothing can bring peace but yourself, means to be self reliant and not rely on other to do things for you. Although when thinking, how self reliant can one be?.
             Emerson believes man should not be what he is not. "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance, and the imitation is suicide." If a man is envious of other people he will ignore all merits of himself. If a man tries to imitate someone he loses all self identity and individualism, like suicide. It is very common to find people envious of others. If I were to make the assumption, everyone is envious of someone or another, I would not be far from the truth. For example people always want what they don't have. Rich people who can afford anything want simple lives, and not so rich people want to live the rich life. I myself have been found to be jealous of others. When i see some of my friends getting new cars from their parents I get jealous because i do not have one. It is a hard thing to overcome and most do not. As Emerson would say "they imitate" which if I am correct in his terms is "suicide". I have been found to do this as well. When you imitate or try to be what you are not you can find yourself feeling as soulless as a dead man. .
            


Essays Related to Self Reliance


Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question