Emerson's Ability To Stay Silent

Emerson clearly states his thoughts when he says that people should speak their mind with “words as hard as cannon balls” in hopes to persuade people to pursue their own personal journeys and explore beyond the confines of the society at the time. For these reasons, I strongly agree with him. It is unfortunate that many people believe that staying silent will prevent further damage to a situation when in reality it can make things worse. A big factor in speaking your mind is knowing when to say it. People frequently sit back and say nothing when something really needs to be said whether it be a suggestion or criticism. They may be afraid of hurting another person or looking foolish which makes it seems like being silent is the wiser choice, however there are many reasons why saying your peace is the best.
Without strong minded people to speak their thoughts we would be much further behind than we are today. William Garrison, an abolitionist, published a newspaper called The Liberator that described the true injustices of the time. In 1832 he helped form the New England Antislavery Society. His ability to speak up
against slavery and hatred pushed the abolitionist movement further than most thought. When the Civil War broke out, he continued to blast the Constitution as a pro-slavery document and continuously stood his ground. If Garrison had never made The Liberator, information of that type may not have been able to spread as far as it did which may have slowed the process of abolishing slavery.
The greater good should always be a priority for the public.
Most people believe that people are good hearted by nature and the reason many stay silent is to prevent hurt. That being said, when someone is headed down a dangerous path it is simply selfish to remain silent because it’s comfortable for you. By staying silent, you may be harming the very people they hope to help. Often times, surrounding people feel the same way and by speaking up it gives everyone an opportunity to find a solution to the problem. Another failure that comes with silence is the assumption that everyone can read your mind and therefore there is no need to express your ideas. This thought process is understandable but wrong, for example, a Doctor can not successfully diagnose a patient simply based off of assumption which is why communication is a key role to making an
impact.
Another example of a person who was successful by speaking his true thoughts and beliefs was Jesus Christ. Jesus stuck to the truth of his message, despite the consequences that he may have experienced. On many occasions, he had the opportunity to change his message. But, he felt the right thing to do was to suffer outer embarrassment in order to leave a message of truth.
It is important to remember that humans are never alone in their thoughts and there is always opportunity in communication. If you are in a situation where biting your tongue seems to be a necessity never forget the greater good of the situation. Speak your words with confidence. In the end whenever you speak up and share what you are thinking, you are benefiting others as well as yourself.