Preview

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
671 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay
LOL
Emerson Essay Rewrite

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s theory of individualism is a stance that emphasizes the importance of self-reliance for personal success. One of the main tenets of the theory claims that a genius is someone who perseveres with one’s plans regardless of others’ opinions and that nothing is sacred other than the integrity of one’s own mind. This essay will further discuss this tenet to support Emerson’s Individualism.
People should live their lives without being burdened by the opinions of others. Emerson, in reference to babes, writes “their mind being whole, their eye is as yet unconquered... infancy conforms to nobody; all conform to it.” All of the greatest inventions came about from someone who did not conform to society. Society ends up conforming to those who follow their own dreams, as adults conform to the ways a child acts. In today's society, success is often measured by a person’s wealth, status and fame. However, no one should judge what success and failure is aside from the person it concerns. Very often society looks down on those who do not conform to its rigid structure. If a person does what everyone else is doing, who will innovate? Unsurprisingly, all those considered successful were those who broke out of the mold and followed their own vision.
A genius is someone who perseveres with his or her plans regardless of the negativity around them. Thomas Edison’s teacher said that he was too stupid to learn anything. Although the number of attempts varies, there is a consensus that the lowest number of times Edison failed to create the light bulb was around 1,000. When asked how he felt about failing so much, Edison answered, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” Emerson writes “God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.” Whether or not a person is religious, the meaning holds true. No coward has ever been able to achieve anything great because cowards tend to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In an essay published in 1841, Emerson addressed one of the central characteristics of the American sensibility: individualism. Before you read, take a moment to think about the term “self-reliance” and what it means to you as a teenager and a student. As you read, determine what “self-reliance” meant to Emerson and how your meaning and his overlap.…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Emerson vs Swimme

    • 2156 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Cited: Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Self-Reliance.” The Human Experience: Who Am I?. Ed. Winthrop University. 8th ed. Littleton, MA: Tapestry, 2012. 88-93. Print.…

    • 2156 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Self Reliance”, Emerson goes on to talk about the American sense of individuality. He makes the claim that the traditions of old are a way for people to live vicariously through the lives of previous people. He states boldly, “Imitation is suicide.” Emerson advocates for being an individual, to stop following and to start leading. Both Emerson and Thoreau believe that one can learn…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    throughout the 1836-1860’s the transcendentalist movement swept across the unites states nation bringing the idea of finding truth through ways of nature and individualism which was strongly influenced by ralph waldo emerson. Emerson was a great philosopher who expressed his ideas and beliefs through his writings like his essay “Self- Reliance”. Self-Reliance discusses the issue of people following the majority and not thinking for themselves as an individual even if others don’t believe the same as you. Emerson calls for a reform asking for independents to think for themselves, and to stay true to your…

    • 96 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emerson In Self-Reliance

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Within NISI's community, we strive for the best for each individual. As the government of this community, we have a limited say of the people. Although the community is not ruled by policy and expediency, there is still a prominent government building located in downtown NISI. Inside the government building, we have officials that are elected by the community to protect and keep our community safe. With a limited government that is restricted through enumerated powers, each individual has the freedom to protect their rights through civil obedience, preserve their liberty through nonconformity and make their own decisions through self reliance.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Transcendentalism is an idealistic philosophical and spiritual movement that started in England in the 1830’s. This movement upheld the belief that divinity flows through nature and humanity, and that nature is one of the most spiritual things you can experience. One of the founding fathers of this beautiful “religion” was Ralph Waldo Emerson, and one of his most influential pieces supporting this movement is entitled “Nature”.…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Relying on one’s self, perceived through the eyes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, is seemingly the only way to show a man’s true genius and goodness to society. Transcendentalism, continually associated with Emerson and his essay “Self-reliance”, announces how the belief in one’s self and one’s ideals pushes away society’s conformity nature, and creates new ideas and questions. Throughout Emerson’s essay, he preaches for society to break away from traditional values, maintain open-minds, and embrace change without unnecessary contradiction. Emerson discusses all of these aspects by metaphorically comparing man’s freedom to understandable objects/situations, alluding to religion, and analyzing the relationship between man’s mind and nature.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston on May 25, 1803 and died on April 27, 1882. According to Encyclopedia.com and other sources such as poets.org, Emerson’s family was “fairly well-known.” It also states that his father passed away when Emerson was just eight years-old, leading his family into poverty. Although he was faced with a financial need, Emerson attended Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of fourteen, enlisted under a scholarship. After graduating, he began to teach and later moved into the ministry, at Boston’s Second Church. He then wedded Ellen Tucker in September of 1829. Their is one major experience that might of had influenced Emerson’s writing, which was…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Coming up on the ASAA Track and Field championships, I developed achilles tendonitis which inevitably ruined my high school running career. I couldn’t believe that me of all people had gotten injured. I was very involved with injury prevention and performed strengthening exercises, stretches, made safe decisions, and had very a very healthy diet on a daily basis. Over the next eighteen months I visited over six different experts who claimed that they recognized my injury and knew how to treat it. After nearly three months without any noticeable improvement I began to conduct my own research and try to correct my problem myself. I developed a keen interest in the field of rehabilitation and the many mysteries that the body held. When the time…

    • 1629 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American writer who believed in living as a non-conformist. His writings were admired greatly by Thoreau, who considered himself a disciple of Emerson. For Thoreau and Emerson, non-conformism embodied the necessity for living an authentic and unique life.…

    • 947 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Plato's Apology, Socrates is on trial for his life because of the alleged accusations of him believing in false gods and teaching such doctrine and corrupting the youth through his teachings. Socrates addresses his accusers faulty allegations while addressing the Athenian people's destructive gullibility in siding with his accusers opinions without searching out the evidence for themselves. Using this opportunity to not just defend himself but rather expose the underlining and core issues, Socrates calls for Athenians to seek to improve their inner life more than their exterior which requires a self-dependent mindset. In Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance, Emerson pleas people to cut the cord from their societal dependence in order…

    • 1580 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Finally individualism is shown in a romantic form in Emerson self reliance. Emerson believes that the individual can achieve whatever it wants.”“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." I've read the statement over and over in my head and I can't seem to agree with him because of my literal comprehension of the quote. If you have been able to master something in the first place, don't you have to grow from somewhere to get there? Personally, I have yet to master a particular thing in my hobbies and sports. Yet, I still feel as I am growing in those activities. For example track; I excel in the 100 meter sprint and I've been given a natural gift for it yet I haven't mastered it like Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay. Though I still feel as I am honestly growing as an athlete in the event. I also have a passion for photography…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Humans are often hindered by society's expectations to the point where reaching our creative potential is nearly impossible. Conforming to society does not prove anything about character, and in Emersons words “Your conformity explains nothing. Act singly, and what you have already done singly will justify you now” (Emerson). Conforming to a group leaves people mimicking one another. Acting singly will take a person farther in society than just going along with the crowd. When big figures are present a person's inner voice stops contributing because others are doing the talking. Questioning the influential and powerful people may cause a disturbance in the status quo, but elevating ones voice to a higher level stands out and is necessary…

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Henry David Thoreau Essay

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The great author Henry David Thoreau once wrote, "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Thoreau's quote is trying to express that in life we sometimes try so hard to accomplish things and gain status that we tend to forget what we are really after is happiness. People often believe that certain things will bring them happiness such as money, jobs, and material possessions. However, after they acquire these things instead of feeling contentment they feel a sense of emptiness.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays