On Self Reliance

On Self Reliance

Emerson does a well job at explaining and stressing the importance of thinking for yourself; so much so, that’s what the name of his essay is! His thesis supports the title of his essay, given the fact that he basically tells us to rely on ourselves and not on others. Emerson promotes this thought through this quote: “Familiar as the voice of the mind is to each, the highest merit we ascribe to Moses, Plato, and Milton is, that they set at naught books and traditions, and spoke not what men but what they thought.”  To the modern reader, this may seem to be confusing - let alone a young teenager. However, Emerson is basically telling us that the voice in your own mind is so familiar to you that you give it no respect. Instead, you give too much weight to the thought of others — your neighbors, your teachers, or some great thinker from the past. But what makes great thinkers great is that they didn't disregard their own thought. They expressed what they truly thought; they listened to their own voice. This is an excellent way of conveying his message in modern English, as it helps us to fully grasp the meaning behind that powerful message of old. We can still apply such admonitions in our life by not disregarding our thought and speak what we really think on a subject. Doing so can boost your social skills and confidence in speaking. Such admonitions can be applied in my life by learning to always take into consideration my thoughts and express them when appropriate. Nobody knows what your special gifts are, and you won't know until you try to express them. Follow your own interest. It will lead you where you need to go.



Read up on a simplified version of this essay I used and quoted in this response by clicking here