Emerson Education Summary

Emerson Education Summary
Because education is one of the most important aspects of a child's life, it is necessary to make sure
you build the right kind of learning environment. In Education by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he
discusses how the ideal form of learning should come from a classroom environment in which the
child is enthusiastic to learn while also being challenged. Emerson believes that self–education is
the most proficient way to create academic success. Because he advocated for more independent
learning, Emerson also supported smaller class sizes so education could become more personal. His
idea of a personal, yet rigorous, learning environment should be implemented throughout
Appoquinimink School District
Emerson's form of education should be adopted by our school because students will enjoy learning
more. If children were given the opportunity to learn about what they thought to be interesting or
important, they would be willing to put more effort and passion into their classes. Emerson writes on
page 194, "If you have a taste which you have suppressed because it is not shared by those about
you, tell them that." Despite how schools suppress people's interests, Emerson believes children
should still feel passionate enough to share their ideas. From my experience, our school has a rigid
curriculum which leaves little room for students to explore their own interests. Making learning
more receptive to the interests of the students would not only make it more personal and enjoyable,
but it
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Emerson Nature
Since the beginning of time, man had lived harmoniously with nature; the two coexisted and formed
a bong that could never be severed. As this bond grew, it permeated mankind's soul in that man
needs nature and it is to their benefit that they utilize it to the best of their ability. Thereafter, it
became universally acknowledged that man needs nature. In Emerson's time – the 1800's – many
thing had yet to be discovered, so when Emerson pondered and took a deeper look into nature, he
noted his discoveries in his essay: "Nature". In his essay, he focuses in on the relationship between
man and nature which holds very true today.
First, Emerson points out that nature provides for man, as if Mother Nature is a commodity or a
valuable thing. In this ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By abusing nature, man cuts down too many trees and overuse our natural water supply. Although,
there are efforts to compensate for the wrongdoings of a small number of people who tamper with
man's true relationship with nature. Organizations such as Plant a Billion Trees are leading the effort
to restore forests by planting a billion trees by 2025, and efforts for desalination or converting
seawater to freshwater which could be useful in drastic conditions – including the California
Drought – have been taking action. Do not let a small number of people cause you to generalize
mankind's actions, especially towards

Emerson A Transcendentalist
In twenty–first century America, everyone wants to be an individual. But is that same individuality
only just a mask? Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the
transcendentalist movement of the mid–nineteenth century. In his speech titled "The American
Scholar," Emerson proposed a plan for Americans to transform into thinkers and doers in the new
country. He preached that one must take into account the importance of nature, past, and action
when presented with intellectual situations. He believed that it was vital for the contemporaneous
society to come together and better itself, and the only way to accomplish this was for each
individual to take their distinctive part, and as Emerson would put it, "perform their duty as
scholars." Due to the conformity within society, the ever–growing sense of self–entitlement, and the
general apathetic nature that pollutes the nation, Emerson's plan is not applicable in twenty–first
century America. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In twenty–first century America, everyone wants to be an individual. In "The American Scholar,"
Emerson proposed a plan for Americans to transform these individuals into thinkers and doers in the
new country. He casted a vision for the nation. He talked of future prominence, but only if each
individual fills their duty as American scholars and works toward a common goal. They must take
into account the importance of nature, past, and action when presented with intellectual situations.
Emerson's plan is not practical in twenty–first century America due to conformity within society, the
rapidly–growing sense of self–entitlement, and the general apathetic nature that pollutes the nation.
Emerson's plan was a seemingly sensible and effective one at the time, yet ascribed to the flaws in
current society, it is ill–fitting. Though this may be true, there is still much hope for this maturing

Emerson History Analysis
Ashleigh Ramsey Ramsey 1
Mr.Kirkindoll
AP U.S. History Third Hour
10 December 2014
Universal
Emerson's opinion on history in his essay "History" is thought provoking. Emerson often views
history as a prevalent or "universal mind". This universal mind is common and accessible to all men.
History is often viewed as the record of the universal mind and is also contained in that universal
mind. Therefore, Emerson is able to say, "Man is explicable by nothing less than all his history".
Emerson tends to believe in a certain relation between the hours of a lifetime and the centuries of the
time itself. If one thinks history is something that happened in the past, one is mistaken. History is
very similar to nature in a way. "It is the universal nature which gives worth to particular men and
things." In nature there is an endless variety of things, but ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Bringing historical to a personal level is a great way to make it relevant, and turn it from studying
the dates to the actual ideas of the people and what they valued. A mans experiences in life are facts
that he stores. Knowledge and one's life experiences are better than looking it up in a book. An
example of Emerson's universal mind is when he says, "Of the Universal mind each individual man
is one more incarnation." This means that every man can contain their divine idiosyncrasy. All of
their idiosyncrasies are divined by nature, not by their personal beliefs or choices. This
interpretation is possible because there is within us the same motive that has came from other men's
thought. We are able to understand their motives through our own understanding of the reactions to
our

Emerson, S Views Of Beliefs In Emerson And Emerson's Thoughts
1. According to Emerson, the "genius" idea, is the idea that an individual can speak their minds. As
it states, "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in our private heart is true
for all men, –– that is genius" (Emerson 266). The individuals, who withstand from the lies and
deception of society and speak their thoughts truly are the ideal concept of a "genius" to Emerson. 2.
Emerson's opinions of "envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide", display his thoughts that an
individual should not be jealous of others' abilities and that impersonating their abilities, will not
better the individual and not create confidence in their thoughts. In other words, "...that he must take
himself for better, for worse, as his portion..." (Emerson 267). Being able to accept yourself in the
truest form and being able to express yourself in every situation in life, is what makes covetous
thoughts undesirable. 3. Emerson values nonconformists, for they display traits of determination and
strength when it comes to the publics' opinions, similar to Emerson's beliefs. To illustrate, "For non–
conformity the world whips you with its displeasure. And therefore a man must know how to
estimate a sour face" (Emerson 272). A man needs be sure of his thoughts and can defend his
thoughts when society disagrees. For the society is too lazy to hold their own opinions and thoughts
to withstand the majority's votes. 4. Emerson uses the phrase, "A foolish consistency is the

Transcendentalism In Emerson And Thoreau
Why follow societal views? Ralph Waldo Emerson's, "Self Reliance", and Henry David Thoreau's,
"Where I Lived and What I Lived For", are both texts that influence the idea of transcendentalism
which influences the way people think about society's actions and how self–reliance. Emerson's text
goes in–depth about relying on oneself instead of the use of inventions that rid of bodily functions.
While Thoreau's text also goes in–depth about one's life and how time should be determined by the
individual and not the clock of society. Being away and being different from society, individualism,
are explained by Emerson and Thoreau through their use of description; however, Thoreau in
addition to description uses compare and contrast and problem and solution all to show that
individuality is a part of life that is missing from modern day society. Emerson and Thoreau's main
source of similarity between individuality comes from their use of description. Emerson and
Thoreau use description in multiple places to develop their ideas. Two particular places where it
stands out is in paragraph three when Emerson states, "Whoso would be a man must be a
nonconformist", and in paragraph three of Thoreau's text "It matters not what the clocks say or the
attitudes and labors of men". The correlation between the quotes and individuality is that one must
not be like the rest to be a man and that one should not live on the same items as the rest of
mankind. The use of description in Emerson's quote

Emerson Vs Whitman
Transcendental philosophy focuses on the divinity of every person which could only be discovered
if the individual has the freedom of psyche to do as such. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman
are renowned transcendentalist authors whose work reflect ideals of non–conformity, self–belief and
self–worth revolving around the orientation of the American Community. In Emerson's "Self
Reliance" he argues for individuals to aspire to an original understanding of the world and its
functions rather than cling on to the ideas of the past. Furthermore that there is a divine connection
between man and nature that aids in his perception of what is good and evil, concluding virtue flows
from intuition not from society. Similarly Whitman's "Song of Myself" ... Show more content on
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In the first paragraph Emerson says, "Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal
sense; for always the inmost becomes the outmost–and our first thought is rendered back to us by
the trumpets of the Last Judgment". Emerson believes that all that man needs is within himself and
to seek no answers outside of oneself. Whitman furthers this idea adding "you shall no longer take
things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the specters in
books...you shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself." Whitman and Emerson focus on
the value of forming your own path and understanding your relationship with everything in society
to be better off. They take the stance that institutions like school and church operate in a manner
which restrict the individual. These institutions as a whole being against the freedom of the
individual to maintain order praise conformity. Emerson and Whitman conclude that these
institutions intoxicate us from the invaluable qualities within our self and that is why we should
break

Whirl And Emerson Comparison
by Emerson. Just as Emerson sat in solitude while exploring his thoughts about the importance of
self–reliance, Hopper did the same thing by depicted scenes of introspection and reflection. Edward
Hopper is often refereed as "the major twentieth–century American 'realist' and one of the giants of
the American painting." During the outset of his career, his style lacked the American aesthetic.
Whirl he was studying at the New York School of Art and Design, he built a relationship with his
professor and fellow realist artist Robert Henri. When Hopper enrolled into the school, Henri had
already become the leading teacher there. However, Henri being an American nationalist painter, he
educated in France, where he encouraged his students to travel

Emerson Individualism
Emphasis on the Individual
During the 19th century Romantic period, an intellectual movement known as Transcendentalism
emerged. Individualism was one of the fundamental ideas of Transcendentalists. This new group
believed that the individual's purity would be corrupted by organized religious and political parties.
Literature in this period was affected by tenets of Transcendentalism. Many of the authors who
believed in this movement expressed their ideas in their works. Transcendentalist writers supported
individualism by advocating self–reliance, nonconformity, and resistance to unjust government.
Individualism was often shown in transcendentalist's works by insisting that oneself must be self–
reliant. Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson was a key leader in the Transcendental movement. In his work,
"Self–Reliance", Emerson advocated self–reliance when he wrote "To believe your own thought, to
believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, ––that is genius" (1334). In
this piece, Emerson also preached "Insist of yourself; never imitate" (1348) to his readers. He
believed that an individual was truly their best when they had independent thinking and relied only
on their own thoughts. Emerson claimed that an individual's true genius cannot be taught or learned
from another person. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Henry David Thoreau believed in prioritizing one's conscience thoughts over the ideas and laws of
government. He argued that people should do what they feel is right and not conform to an unjust
institution just because the majority is. In his essay "Civil Disobedience", Thoreau claimed to agree
with the mottos "That government is best which governs least;" (1577) and "That government is best
which governs not at all;" (1577). Thoreau did not resist government entirely, but only the specific
parts that he deemed immoral or

Emerson Self Reliance
Emerson starts of the first pages of his enlightened essay with 3 epigraphs one in Latin that
translates to "Do not seek outside yourself" and That is only one of Emerson's suggestions you take
to achieve self reliance. The next epigraph in Emerson's first pages is a six–line stanza from
"Beaumont and Fletcher's Honest Man's Fortune" and after that is one is a four–line stanza that
seems to have been written by Emerson himself. All three epigraphs stress the necessity of relying
on on your self for knowledge and guidance which is the main idea of basically the whole essay.
Emerson talks about originality, self trust, character, society and conforming to it, nature, family,
and religion. Now don't be fooled I am not listing all of Emerson's points in order I am simply
explaining all he covers in his essay to further explain why or why they cannot work in 2017.
Emerson begins his argument with individualism by talking about how you should form your own
ideas instead of conforming to others ideas. "To believe that what is true in your private heart is true
for all men – that is genius." Someone who doubts someone else's individual opinion and chooses to
conform his own opinion to what society has to say afraid if being criticized himself and he lacks
the ability to even produce a thought of sufficient power and originality. So because the individual
can not form his own opinion then he is a victim of society and he is handed down thoughts by
others who have agreed on what is

Thoreau and Emerson
Title: Thoreau and Emerson
In today's society each individual has the ability to thinks for themselves, but the inception of
different ideas and thoughts has led to a population that's dominated by the majority . We live in a
society where a media, television and internet are the sources of manipulating a person's mind. It
also creates their mindset to determine how one think about themselves or and different view point
on topic. In this particular essay I am going to be talking about two main people who had similar
argument about how to be individual and not let government take control over your lives. Ralph
Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were most influential writers of their time. They both had
encouraged and practice ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation
which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a
corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a
conscience.(127) And in "Self Reliance" by Emerson: "To believe your own thought, to believe that
what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, –– that is genius."(109) To develop into
an individual is to make every choice based upon your own personal belief, no matter what society
says, and to act upon your belief . Emerson thought that all great works were products of
individualism and self–reliance, claiming that: In every work of genius we recognize our own
rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. Great works of art have no
more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with
good–humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side. Else, to–
morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the
time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another. (109)
Emerson considered individuality as doing whatever he wanted and ignoring what the people think,
which we can find in his words: "What I must do is all that concerns me, not

Transcendentalism In Emerson And Henry Thoreau And Emerson
"I did not wish to live what was not life." (Thoreau 175) Is the life you are living the one you were
meant to live? Or are you caught up in the whirlwind of societal expectations, worries, and doubts?
Our ability to engage with life can seemingly drown in social expectations and burdens of life,
moreso now than ever. Fearing the possibility of not truly living, Henry Thoreau and Ralph Emerson
spearheaded a new philosophy and way of thinking, Transcendentalism. This approach to life
believes that a person can transcend the mundane and repetitive through living life fully awake,
achieved by: simplifying one's life, becoming self–reliant and independent, and communing with
nature. Thoreau desired,"to live deep and suck out the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and
Spartan–like as to put to rout all that was not life," (175) and the aim of one's life is to remain fully
awake. Thoreau and Emerson had marginal differences in their approaches to the main facets of
Transcendentalism, simplicity, self–reliance, and nature. While these facets hold some value for
Christians, wholeheartedly buying into this perspective can be dangerous as simplicity becomes the
road to salvation rather than Christ; self–reliance becomes selfish and arrogant; and nature is given
God–like qualities. Simple living. The ascetic lifestyle. Such a life does not even occur to most
people, but for Emerson and Thoreau, simplicity facilitates a higher thought process, something
necessary to be fully aware

Emerson And Transcendentalist Beliefs
I found it interesting how Emerson weaves his theology and philosophy into his writing. From the
very beginning of the passage, Emerson establishes his transcendentalist beliefs, reconciling the idea
that "the wide universe is full of good" with the idea that one must work to obtain sustenance by the
idea a tenant's land "is given to him to till". This reconciliation being that in his worldview evil
cannot exist, so to explain the seeming logical inconsistency of people having to toil for food, he
sets up the idea the universe provides everyone with the opportunity to achieve, but one must be
willing to utilize it. The idea of transcending coming about through labor can be seen in the way
transcendentalists tried to establish a utopian society and to perfect mankind. The natural world,
according to Emerson's philosophy, gives each individual unique ... Show more content on
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Emerson also makes multiple parallels to various religions, seemingly connecting to Greek
mythology with the phase "trust thyself", comparable to the phrase "know thyself" which is
associated with the Apollo temple at Delphi. If Emerson is making a reference to Greek philosophy
to establish his beliefs, then the "iron string" which every heart vibrates to may be related to the lyre,
a symbol of Apollo that is comparable to a harp. Another symbol that can be connected to Apollo is
the laurel wreath, a symbol of victory, comparable to "immortal palms", in Emerson's essay being a
symbol of eternal triumph. As Apollo himself is often used as a symbol for the ambitions of
mankind, Emerson would be in this scenario using these allusions to Greek mythology to emphasize
the ability of man to transcend through the utilization of what nature has granted

Summarize Emerson Transcendentalism
Discussion Questions – Self Reliance Directions: Read (and annotate) the essay carefully. You may
want to read it more than once. Then, answer each of the following questions fully and thoughtfully.
Your responses must be typed (they may be typed directly into this document). 1. Discuss the
meaning of the verse preceding the essay. The verse talks about how man is his own, he is in charge
of his own life and fate. I think this means to be self reliant, to be yourself, be your own individual
and be confident about it. Our lives can still be affected by the past like a shadow behind us but we
cannot let it take control. 2. Looking at the entire essay, what does Emerson mean by self–reliance?
Objectively summarize Emerson's major points. Emerson ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Be confident about yourself and your thoughts, not conforming to others and embrace nature.
Transcendentalism is a journey for truth and reality. It creates new ideas and an understanding of
life. 8. "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members."
Interpret. I think this quote means that society is going to destroy our "manhood" or how we think or
what we do. Society "forces" us to conform and the "manhood" is the ability to think for ourselves.
Everyone should be be self–reliant and listen to themselves, not what society wants them to hear.
People should not be pulled into letting others create rules or letting them think for them. Everyone
should have their own thoughts and ideas even if it makes you different. 9. "The virtue in most
request is conformity. Self–reliance is its aversion." Explain. I think this means self reliance is what
we all strive for but society strives for conformity. Self reliance is the complete opposite of
conformity. Society wants everything the same and nothing new but people want different things
that society wants. 10. Interpret the metaphor, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little
minds, adored

Comparing Emerson And Thoreau
ake Home Essay: Emerson and Thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Thoreau both used strong
sunrise imagery to effectively express their ideas of transcendentalism. Emerson wants it to be
known that one should not rely on tradition, rather live in the present moment. Thoreau expresses
the idea of awakening the self by spiritual means rather than relying on physical forces to
understand one's own existence in the surrounding nature. Emerson's main focus is individuality. He
wants human beings to feel connected to their inner and outer selves to experience spirit and nature.
When he asserts,"The sun shines to–day also" he wants to symbolize that it is unnatural to live by
traditions from the past. Also, by including this assertion in the first ... Show more content on
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In order to discover the meaning of life and his role in it, he feels he needs to live it isolated and in
it's most simple form. He wanted to experiment, and going to the woods alone would mean getting
rid of the materialistic distractions that disabled him to focus on the true essence of life. Thoreau
was looking for how life was, whether it was glorious or cruel and to do this he had to experience
life to it's raw core. Thoreau, also wanted to observe mother nature and attend the natural
environment because it characterized and surrounded life. He didn't want to waste time on frivolous
things because to the self those purposeless things were unprofitable. Thoreau didn't want to spend
money on the "normal" life that he was living in because he saw it as something unnecessary. He
also wanted to have the spiritual awakening and develop a sense of self reliance. Clearly, the ability
to depend on the self was ideal because it represents the recognition of who one is. By confronting
life without the distractions and seeing it's simplicity it is effortless to gain insight to the value it
stores. Thoreau also wanted to get in touch with his psyche and live things for

Education and Emerson Essay
1. In this essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson describes his view of an ideal education. What are its
defining characteristics?
I believe his defining characteristics on his view of an ideal education would have to include the
motherly guidance way of education, the teachers working on each student individually and the
teachers inspiring the students to think for themselves by giving them encouragement for their
thoughts.
2. In what ways is Emerson's advice appropriate to a child's first teacher – his or her parents?
Some ways Emerson's advice is appropriate to a child's first teacher and his/her parents is the advice
of motherly guidance or a guiding hand. A hand that does not punish harshly, rather a hand that
encourages a child to do things, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
6. Emerson refers to educating "a boy" and "a man" and uses masculine pronouns when referring to
students. As a reader, does this gender bias affect how receptive you are to Emerson's ideas?
It may increase receptivity for me because I am a teenage boy but I'm not if it has much of an affect
when compared with girls reading this essay. I'm not sure if it matters much.
7. Describe the adult that Emerson imagines would emerge from an education based on the
principles he supports.
Emerson probably would imagine an adult that would emerge from an education based on the
principles he supports would be hungry for the truth, would look towards the future and learning,
would not be afraid to share his ideas but what know for the most part right from wrong, and he
would have enthusiasm associated to learning. This adult be it a girl or boy will be a college of
knowledge or a wealth of knowledge with their own thoughts and opinions.
1. What does Emerson mean when he says, "Nature loves analogies, but not repetitions" (para.1)?
He means nature loves similarities with distinct differences not the same thing over and over again.
2. Why is the relationship between "Genius and Drill," as Emerson explains it, paradoxical (para.3)?
It seems pretty self contradictory but it does shed some light on his idea. The child wants to learn
more and wants to expand his/her previous unheard

Emerson Individualism
The Importance of Individuality In the essay, "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson is about the
experiences of Emerson's life and his journal that focus on the importance of self–reliance.
According to the dictionary.com, self–reliance means reliance on one's own powers and resources
rather than those of others. The purpose of his essay is to motivate his readers to follow their own
individual and never be afraid to express their own original ideas rather than follow the social
expectation or other's ideas. He also urges people to be honest in their relationship with others. In
the essay, he uses stylistic elements of many metaphors to explain the importance of individuality in
a conforming society and how it affects us. Throughout the "Self Reliance", Emerson expresses his
aspect that the society has too influenced about what people value and think cause them to lack of
individual's uniqueness. He believes that society want people to conform or to be like everyone else.
This social pressure has negative consequences on what we value. Emerson believes that if we end
up valuing what other people value, then everyone would lose one's own voice and individual ...
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We are like children who repeat by rote the sentences of granddames and tutors, and, as they grow
older, of the men of talents and character they chance to see, – painfully recollecting the exact words
they spoke; afterwards, when they come into the point of view which those had who uttered these
sayings, they understood them, and are willing to let the words go; for, at any time, they can use
words as good, when occasion comes." (834) Emerson uses the comparison of children and adults to
focus the way of learning of many people. In this quote, he explains that when a person learn a
words again and again without knowing any meaning of that words, when we get older and realize
the meaning we might wouldn't like to say that words

Emerson And Individuality
How does Emerson define individuality in paragraph one of Self Reliance? In the first paragraph of
Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he defines his individuality by interpreting the true
meaning of emotions and perspectives of other writers and the importance of being authentic.
Emerson also discourages following behind other writers in their perspectives and encourages
people to develop their own opinions. Throughout the first paragraph, Emerson speaks of the
sentiment of feelings and the impact it as on its readers and the importance of speaking your own
thoughts and words. Emerson tells us that we are to speak our latest conviction, and then we will be
socially understood and respected. In the writings, Emerson also encourages people to pay more
attention to their self, and one's own thoughts as they come to mind because as we dismiss them
they always return as with an isolated ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize
our own rejected thoughts and: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty". In the
previously quoted text, Emerson starts out by specifically identifying "man" as the subject and gives
the reader a sense of imagery describing the brief moment when a thought comes to mind and he
tells the reader to focus more on themselves rather than the thoughts and feelings of other poets and
wise men. Emerson begins to downplay the character [man] by saying he dismisses everything that
comes to mind, treating himself as unworthy, and disregarding all emotions and thoughts of himself
as if they are not valued. At the end, Emerson talks about the time when we find ourselves relating
to great works of previous thoughts of one's own self and we pity ourselves when they come back
around for not acting own

Emerson Materialism
When did materialism become such a deeply ingrained part of man's sense of self? Since the dawn
of time mankind has had an almost carnal desire to possess the unattainable. To conquer and claim
without much regard to moral obligation. To control and take whenever and whatever they pleased
without much consequence. Mankind is grappling with what it means to have a sense of self,
because essentially, you are what you own in modern society. Famed writer and poet Ralph Waldo
Emerson explores the possible root of mankind's infatuation with possessions in the following
quote, "Men have looked away from themselves and at things so long that they have come to esteem
the religious, learned and civil institutions as guards of property, and they deprecate ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Man wants esteem, so man turns away from God to possess worldly, materialistic objects. The
possessive need becomes bigger and bigger until suddenly it's not just esteem that man wants, it a
need to sate the greed that lives within him as well. My Wood by E.M. Forster, Forster demonstrates
the effects of ownership on himself after he purchases his own property with the earnings from his
novel. He says in reference to his property that "it makes [him] feel it ought to be larger." Owning
things can make people lose sight of who they are as a person and can deeply affect their behavior
around other people.A person who owns more expensive things can be viewed as someone who is
materialistic, and deep down they don't fully understand who they are as a person. People can own
expensive things and have completely different interpretations about why they are buying those
things. When people buy expensive things for themselves it makes them seem self–absorbed
because others don't get to have the luxury of buying nice things for themselves. A person that
doesn't always have the latest of gadgets and the fanciest of clothes are far more understanding
really get the meaning of owning something valuable. However, a person who owns everything they
ever wanted, take things for granted and doesn't truly appreciate what they have and from there is
where greed can take over and consume a person's

Emerson and Thoreau
An influential literary movement in the nineteenth century, transcendentalism placed an emphasis on
the wonder of nature and its deep connection to the divine. As the two most prominent figures in the
transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau whole–heartedly
embraced these principles. In their essays "Self–Reliance" and "Civil Disobedience", Emerson and
Thoreau, respectively, argue for individuality and personal expression in different manners. In
"Self–Reliance", Emerson calls for individuals to speak their minds and resist societal conformity,
while in "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau urged Americans to publicly state their opinions in order to
improve their own government. Both Thoreau and Emerson ... Show more content on
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Emerson and Thoreau argue that only through self–reliance and civil disobedience can society and
government be saved from corruption and incompetence. A key difference between the philosophies
of Emerson and Thoreau as articulated in "Self–Reliance" and "Civil Disobedience" is their vision
of how individuals should shape society and government. Emerson believes that one should only
follow his own conscience and intellect not the opinions of the crowd. Emerson argues that it is not
only possible to successfully defy the common practices and beliefs of society, but that "to be great
is to be misunderstood" (Emerson 367). However, Thoreau believes that in a democracy the voice of
the people as whole should be followed. Thoreau desires a "better government", not anarchy devoid
of the law where every individual follows his own set of rules (Thoreau 381). Although assuredly in
favor of individuality, Thoreau recognizes that a democracy requires public consensus and popular
support. While Emerson and Thoreau certainly have difference of opinions, they recognize the need
for public discussion and discourse. Emerson declares "a foolish consistency" to be "the hobgoblin
of little minds" (Emerson 367). This is shown in their essays "Self–Reliance" and "Civil
Disobedience" in which they support individuality and personal expression. Despite their
contrasting views of society and government, the two most

Emerson And Conformity
The well known essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, exerted his beliefs that conformity is something
that independent individuals should not participate in through out his essay of "Self Reliance". The
Merriam Webster dictionary defines conformity as, "behavior that is the same as the behavior of
most other people in a society, group, etc." ("Conformity"). Emerson's primary concern with
conformity was the overbearing control that society had on a free individual. I agree that we should
not change our morals and values if pressured from outside forces. However, society, even though it
is merely a concept created by the human brain, is something that holds a country together. Without
society, people would make everyday life very complicated and chaotic.The ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Emerson is trying to explain here that each individual is responsible for accepting information.
Emerson would argue that no one can force any ideas in which you do not agree because they are
not sacred or viewed with accuracy by your own mind. However, when people disagree, they should
not have any feelings of remorse because to be individualistic, the person must outline what he or
she believes and stick to it. I agree with Emerson on the behalf of religious morals because as a
Christian, we are called to keep to our faith, "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience
clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been
shipwrecked" (New Living Translation Bible Tim. 1.19). Here, the Bible is showing that sticking to
faith and having a Christian outlook on life is necessary. Without these foundations in our walk with
God then our faith in God will be skewed. So sticking to something that we believe in is a depiction
of Emerson's viewpoint. However, I have internal conflict with Emerson on the basis of nothing is
accepted but that in which we believe. The influential David Meyers showed us that in–group bias is
basically the acceptance or support of some group(s) (100). Meyers gives us a great example that
not everything that we accept has to be accepted by our own mind. There are in group biases in
which all humans connect to even though we are oblivious to them most of the time. For example,
we might connect more with people of our race because as a in group bias, those are the people we
are around more often. This is not a racist standpoint but rather an immediate connection with
someone who we unknowingly think is similar to us. Conformity is something that Emerson
despises throughout his essay and it crucial to understand why nonconformity is disliked in

Nature Emerson Analysis
In Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson, there are many ideas that Emerson explored during the passage.
One is the view we have on the stars. Emerson feels like we do not value the stars as we should. We
would view them in a whole new way if they were only present every a thousand years. We would
have a different opinion of them, and would watch out for them when we knew they would come
out. Another idea that Emerson focuses on in the excerpt is if an individual does have a bad attitude,
they look at nature in a bad way. If they have a good attitude, they look at it in a positive way. One
other idea that Emerson pursues is the idea of the transparent eyeball. We are following the over
soul, we are apart of the spirit. we can see everything, but not everything can see us. The last idea
that I will talk about is the view between adults and children. When children are young, they love to
play outside, be in the cool breeze, or play in the snow. Individuals as they grow to be adults they
start to lose that love. They lose the way nature is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this excerpt his ideas kind of grow to be the same thing. A idea that he talks a lot about in Self–
Reliance is accepting yourself. A lot of people find flaws and mistakes in themselves. They get into
a slump, and try to form with society. Accept yourself for who you are, not for what others want you
to be. A second idea that Emerson talks about is finding happiness. He talks about when you put
your and soul into something, it will make you happy. When it turns out good, knowing you have
done your best, is an amazing time where you find happiness. Another idea that he talks about is not
worrying about being judged. Learn after you accept yourself, to not conform with society. Be an
individual who is not scared what others think. Do not let society hold you back from who you are.
If you be who you are individually, you will find life more

Essay on Emerson And Thoreau
&#8220;Dance to the beat of your own drummer:'; A piece of advice that I have been told my
whole life, and have tried my hardest to follow. The words were taken from Thoreau&#8217;s
quote, &#8220;If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears
a different drummer.';
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau changed our lives. How? Well, the answer is not
so simple as the statement. To understand fully how they affected our lives, we have to understand
the philosophy of Emerson and Thoreau, and the relationship between the two. So let&#8217;s
begin with the relationship between Emerson and Thoreau.
Emerson was born in 1803, into ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many people claim that Thoreau&#8217;s ideas were simply taken from
Emerson&#8217;s, in fact, some critics call Thoreau Emerson&#8217;s miror. And
although their philosophies greatly reflected one another, they differed in many ways as well.
Emerson&#8217;s writing focused on nonconformity and individuality. In his essay
"Self–Reliance," he wrote, "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own
mind," and, "Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist."
Emerson writings were also more focused on the self; philosophy of humanism and Independence
from society are all things that Emerson wrote on frequently. Thoreau, while focusing on matters of
the self in many of his essays, tended to have more of a political overtone to his writing.
In &#8220;Civil Disobedience';, Thoreau&#8217;s most famous social protest, He
explains that it is our civil right to disagree with laws. He believed that people must be free to act
according to their own idea of right and wrong, without government interference. In "Civil
Disobedience", he said that people should refuse to obey any law they believe is unjust.
Thoreau practiced this type of passive resistance when, in 1846, he refused to pay poll taxes. He did
so to express his opposition to the Mexican War. Thoreau spent one night in jail for his refusal.

Author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson's work, "Self–Reliance" set the guideline for what it
meant to live a life dictated by transcendental ideals. His colleague Henry David Thoreau in his
book, "Where I Lived and What I Lived For", took Emerson's vision and put them to use in his own
life, recording his findings in his book. The two major thematic overtones that they share include
nature and simplicity, which Thoreau lived through during his time with Emerson on Walden Pond.
Thus, by extracting excerpts about both nature and simplicity, while relating it to Thoreau's life on
Walden Pond, it becomes apparent that Thoreau, by living on Walden Pond, vicariously lived
Emerson's philosophy of simplicity and nature. The first of which is shown through his actions on
Independence Day, and the latter through his interactions with the property he had purchased.
Simplicity, as a means of living, is an idea that Emerson goes over thoroughly in his essay "Self ...
To him distractions served nothing more than to bog down the mind. A simple life, in essence, was
the key to becoming an enlightened individual. Emerson goes so far as to implore his readers to "let
our simplicity judge them, and our docility to our own law demonstrate the poverty of nature and
fortune beside our native riches" (Emerson). It is to be our own simplicity that governs our
judgments, letting an inner latent richness inside ourselves dictates how to live. Thoreau, during his
time on his property, captures the sentiment of Emerson's message in his book with an anecdote set
on Independence Day. When he first took abode in the woods Thoreau comments that, "my house
was not finished for winter, but was merely a defense against the rain, without plastering or
chimney, the walls being of

Essay on Emerson
In Emerson's Self–Reliance we see the crowning work of the transcendentalist movement. In this
piece Emerson explains his belief in the innate divinity of man and defines our "Self–
Reliance" as the broad identity in which we personally participate. Emerson challenges his
readers to not conform to traditional practices in a variety of realms. However, he punctuates just
four aspects of these challenges to tradition and they are: religion, education, art, and society. I
found these passages to be the best representatives of Emerson's ideology due to their poignancy and
numbered paragraphs. He talks of these challenges to man as revolutions due to a greater self–
reliance. The profoundness of thought in this piece is surprising to ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
In the second numerated passage Emerson challenges the realm of Classical Education and the way
wealthy New Englanders regard such old world education as being the best. For years Americans
had been sending their prestigious young men overseas to be immersed in the classic culture and
regionalism Europe offers. This is objected to by Emerson for the reason that everything you need is
inside you. History is your history; culture is your culture; art is your art; beauty is your beauty, etc.
He says, "The soul is no traveller; the wise man stays at home, and when his necessities, his
duties, on any occasion call him from his house, or into foreign lands, he is at home. . ."
(Robinson 104). He is emphasizing the idea that all which makes up a man, all which defines him, is
in his immediate and homebound presence and therefore resides within him wherever he goes. He
believes in the benefit of travel "for the purposes of art, of study, and benevolence. . ."
(Robinson 104), but as for one who is traveling to acquire or attain that which he does not have,
Emerson says we travel away from ourselves and in our search we carry only "ruins to
ruins" (Robinson 104). The end of this passage was especially interesting to me. He talks of
his travel from home envisioning beauty and losing his sadness. However, when he physically
arrives

Emerson Mastery
Ralph Waldo Emerson makes a reasonable point when he says that if we can't expand past what we
know, we cannot advance ourselves. While this is true, it is quite broad and should specify what sort
of mastery and growth. What would mastery consist of? Can we truly 'master' anything? What if we
have no need to grow, if we are content having the one mastery? Does one need a mastery to want to
learn more? His statement may be true under certain conditions or if revised to include such outliers,
but as it is, the specifications are too loose. Mastery can present itself in many forms, it isn't
concrete. There isn't just the big milestone where you take a photo and receive a certificate for
achievement, there can be a child learning to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
That dog didn't try to reach outside its current level to let the humans know it needed to go out, it
was a reflex response, though it has learned that the bark gets it outside. It has grown without
pushing itself to achieve more. Completely learning something has to happen in stages so that it can
be fully absorbed, so having one mastery before moving to something else is important but some
occur at the same time for better understanding of each as they relate to another. Its like a Chemistry
class, you learn how to completely do one basic formula and what it means before you can move to
the next. In a Chemistry class, you may also learn separate parts at the same time because they tie
together later on. It may seem all over the place but once you get to the end of that class, you have
many small masteries and you have mastered the class as a whole. Emerson also assumes that
everyone wants to expand upon themselves and to experience more, but this is untrue. Often, it is
unnecessary to go beyond what a job or course requires, so people won't push themselves because
they don't feel a need to do so. An old man who has been working in an auto body shop all his life
won't see a need to go learn how to knit or use all the bells and whistles on the smart phone his

Who Is Emerson A Transcendentalist
Emerson a transcenddentalist and Bierce a realist. What do these two have in common? These men
both have an abstract view on life. While Emerson a self–reliant and individualistic thinker would
say not to conform and not to obey established authority. Meanwhile Bierce would find the humor in
all the events around him that most would just overlook. Bierce a man who takes the dull and
tedious tasks of everyday life and makes comedy out of them in the form of satire. Bierce's works
bring a humorous twist to things you wouldn't have thought comedy could be made of. In some of
his satire there is some undertones of truth that only a realist can see in life that most are too naïve to
see. Some find his work offensive, these people

Emerson Metaphors
Everyone in this planet called Earth, has their own different ways of expressing feelings, different
learning strategies, and different talents. In this piece of writing, Emerson explains how and why
independence is what has created today's society. Emerson explains these thoughts by using
metaphors, common sense, similes and imagery. Emerson starts off by stating that everyone is very
common but also very different. For example, when Emerson says, "Every heart vibrates to that iron
string" (Pg. 591, Line 37), he expresses that people are very similar. A matter of fact, there is an
actual study that shows when a human being listens to music, the beat of your heart goes with the
rhythm of the music. This piece of the puzzle has one powerful image. And that is an image of
imagery and metaphor. Emerson uses these two strategies because he wants to grab his audience'
attention by bringing what they love most, their heart (without their heart they wouldn't be able to
love) and music. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
591, Line 13). Here Emerson explains how every single person has control over their own lives.
They can achieve their goals and it could also go the other way. This is another way to put
Emerson's quote, like when someone says you learn from your mistakes, that is something major
that we need to understand. Another reason why Emerson wrote this piece like he did, was that we
need to go with the feeling of our gut. Because if a person thinks about a decision for too long, that
person will miss your chance. Another quote is, "Let the subject be what it may" (Pg. 591, Line 2).
This goes hand in hand with the recent quote stated above. No one has control over another person's
life except the person who is living

Emerson Poem Analysis
Duffy 1
Daniel Duffy
Megan Hillman
EN2001 Dan Dufournaud
Tutorial 3: Tuesday 10:30–11:30
Tuesday, November 21st 2017
The Poet: Emerson Response
By the end of Emersons "The Poet", not only has he inspired a new generation of poets he's also
emphasized the important role poetry plays in society and changed all the rules society had
regarding poetry. "For poetry was all written before time was, and whenever we are so finely
organized that we can penetrate into that region where the air is music, ..." (Emerson pg. 3)
In this excerpt from The Poet, Emerson is attempting to make a profound statement on the impact
poetry plays in every living human being on Earth. He is viewing a poet as the creator of the
universe. In doing this he is saying that poetry is something that already exists all around us, it's the
job of the poet to capture that and present it through their words. Emerson labels the poet as "the
man of Beauty," which he believes has a superior calling. The poet is different from the intellectual
as he doesn't see any relation between the material world, and the world of thoughts and ideas.
Emerson establishes his belief that there is a relationship between the "ideal", which is something
that we aspire to be, and the "real" which is one of the central issues in the discussion. Emerson
backs up all his points with very heady, and mystical beliefs which adds to the grandiose nature of
The Poet. Emerson believes that too many of us have distanced ourselves

Emerson And Transcendentalist Beliefs
Ralph Waldo Emerson, author of the essay, "Nature," was most commonly known for the role he
played in the American transcendentalist movement. In his essays, he commonly wrote about his
transcendentalist beliefs. His transcendentalist beliefs not only shaped his attitude toward organized
religion, but also towards how one should form their religious opinions. Transcendentalism is the
belief that "finding God depended on neither orthodox creedalism nor the Unitarians' sensible
exercise of virtue, but on one's inner striving toward spiritual communion with the divine spirit.
From this wellspring of belief would flow all the rest of their religious philosophy" (Finseth).These
ideals are what Emerson formulated his beliefs from, and as one who believed human kind is
innately good, Emerson believed that the way to achieve the highest potential was "to look into
themselves, into nature, into art" ("Transcendentalism") for their ideals and inspirations rather than
seeking out organized religious groups. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
What he means by this is that when man is in nature, happiness overwhelms you no matter how
significant your problems are. Thus, giving true spiritual actualization to the man. Another way
Emerson expands his views is in the quote "In the woods, we return to reason and faith" (Emerson
511). Though ones life may seem on the downhill slope, going into nature returns the feeling of
security and provides an uplifting feeling as

Never having a reason for reading nineteenth century writing in depth previously, I find myself
stricken by Ralph Waldo Emerson's poetic nature. I specifically find myself drawn to Nature. Since
his writing is not as common amongst other nineteenth century writers or philosophers, other than
Henry David Thoreau. Both of these philosophers were born in the early nineteenth century in
Massachusetts. Emerson was born in Boston and Thoreau in Concord. Both attended college at
Harvard. They respectively dedicated both of their careers to pursue Transcendentalism philosophy.
They have parallel beliefs about nature and the simplicity of material goods and spirituality. Thoreau
was an easier read for sure, however, my love of Emerson's poetic and brash writing came swiftly.
You either love him or ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
At the time of his writing, The American Scholar," women were not allowed to achieve a higher
education and scholarships were only awarded to men. This speech was originally a pamphlet but
was converted into an essay later that year, publishing it in his book titled, Essays. As he discusses
the American Scholar, he uses the term as a whole, like an entire entity, not a multifaceted group.
Emerson instructs this entity on how the scholar should be educated, as nature should be their guide.
He uses experts from Nature to touch on many topics for the scholar giving these two particular
writings a general contrary notion. As depicted prior, Emerson derived most of his later writing and
philosophy from his belief in nature. Men should be accountable for themselves and let nature be
thy guide. Hence, you ask, why is Emerson so confusing? I do not believe that he is as confusing as
one would think. I believe that his philosophy is quite to the point, erring on the side of

During the nineteenth century, the new philosophical trend of transcendentalism occurred. Ralph
Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, two contemporary authors, expressed transcendentalist
ideas through their writing. Their perspectives of nature and society were both very similar. They
believe people need to simplify their lives, and spend time in nature. To them, nature is the key to
peace and tranquillity that people knowingly and unknowingly seek. Herman Melville, another
contemporary author of that time, has a very different view of nature. Through Moby Dick, he
expresses his ideas that nature is essentially evil. He thinks that it is dangerous, and in order to
protect yourself you need to go on the offense against it. Thoreau and Emerson urge people to live a
peaceful, simplistic life and they think that spending time in nature, which is essentially good, is the
key to doing so, while Melville thinks that nature is a destructive force that people should either
avoid or fight. Emerson is one of the first people to introduce the idea of nature being the key to
peace. He insists that the natural world is beautiful, and people should spend their time in it. In his
essay Nature, Emerson says "Nature never wears a mean appearance/Nature never becomes a toy to
a wise spirit"(Emerson 1). ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By living in the wilderness, he finds true peace and harmony. Like Emerson, he thinks that nature is
beautiful, gentle, and everybody should spend time in it. Society corrupts you and distracts you from
the wonders that the natural world has to offer. Thoreau used nature to intertwine with his
spirituality, such as in Walden when he says "I got up early and bathed in the pond; that was a
religious exercise, and one of the best things which I did" (Thoreau 6). This was a way for him to
become closer to the universe through nature. He thought that by doing this each morning he was
given new strength for the

Emerson Thematic Statement
Write a thematic statement for the essay "Self–Reliance". Explain how Emerson's idea of Self–
Reliance is different from and similar to the common use of the term (take care of your own needs
and don't depend on others outside yourself). The essay "Self– Reliance" is different from the
definition of only thinking of one's own needs in the sense that Emerson explains that one should
not only depend on themselves but to also not submit to the majority of ideas in society and obey by
one's own beliefs. Emerson relates being independent or "Self– Reliant" to the "genuine" feelings of
an individual and how it should be taken pride of rather than pushed away by the conformities of
society. Give 5 examples of figurative language and analyze how Emerson uses them to convey his
message of self–reliance (Hint: your analysis should link back to the purpose you mention in the
thematic statement above). 1 Joint–Stock Company: The meaning of this word is a company owned
by multiple shareholders, but Emerson uses it in the sense of America being bound together through
majority belief systems, but individual ideas should be recognized as well. 2 Sculpture: A sculpture
is described as a carving of a 3D object, Emerson uses it as a term for explaining the memories that
make a significant deal in society and being significant individually 3 Befriends: Acting like a
friend, helping someone out, used by Emerson, he explains that befriending represents the good that
is brought into the world

Socrates Vs Emerson
In their work of explaining and utilizing self–reliance, Socrates and Emerson similarly reference this
idea and how standing up for one's own beliefs will impact others. Socrates' charges brought upon
him by accusers such as Meletus and Anytus are punishable by death. Though he may lose his life,
he refuses to surrender his original ideas and defends philosophy without changing his views even
with the impending death sentence. In the same way, Emerson's theme of self–reliance dictates that
everyone should use it to combat conformity. I've always been taught that believing in yourself is
key. Although many people allege that they rely on themselves, I claim that Socrates' and Emerson's
beliefs about self–reliance are significant because believing ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
According to Emerson, people need to "Insist on yourself; never imitate" (Emerson 18). Anyone
familiar with the saying "be yourself" can appreciate this idea. He further explains his method of
self–reliance and how it will be beneficial in the long run. People should be self–reliant and pursue
their ideas. Emerson is correct in implying that no one should ever back down or succumb to
imitation which could lead to more mindless thinking. Relying solely on yourself can present better
opportunities than carelessly repeated nonsense. This is one of the reasons that teachers say not to
cheat on tests. They explain that there is no use in trying to copy off of your partner's work because
they could be wrong, but people still do it. Therefore, these cheaters will never learn to think or
figure things out on their own. In life, the most successful people are the ones who are resilient and
self–sufficient instead of selfish and easily discouraged. Socrates also brought up imitation when he
talked of young people imitating him, but they did not understand him. In the same way, Emerson's
theme of self–reliance is the foundation of leadership and

Comparing Emerson And Thoreau, By Ralph Waldo Emerson
There was a time when looking for knowledge we searched the streets and we searched the skies.
We did not search in our pockets for our phones. Now, the streets are empty and the skies bear
nothing we can see. No one is looking up at the sky, they are looking down searching through their
phone's for the answers untold. Our phones, these wondrous pieces of technology are taking grasp of
our minds, dulling our thoughts and our senses.Yet, if we just took the time to look up at the sky
once in awhile, we would see the knowledge it holds. The only thing that can tilt our heads upward
is nature. Nature is so beautiful and holds so many answers. This is what Ralph Waldo Emerson was
trying to tell us. This is why with the help of Emerson and his alike ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
We stacked it so high we can no longer see what's important. Emerson made a valid point in "The
American Scholar," in which he said, "In this view of him, as Man Thinking, the theory of his office
is contained." These bright minds have been so constricted by their duties they become stuck and
cannot reach past the bars of society. We no longer fight the towers as they have become the only
thing we know, and so "Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial
seeing" (Emerson, Nature, Chapter 1). This means that the towers, of technology, have become so
high that we can no longer see the sun, and now we only have a past memory of what we think it
looks like. If we just took Emerson and Thoreau's words into consideration we would see that they
are telling us something important. They are telling us how to tear down those towers and see the
sun once more, to see the purpose. One might object here that they are just words on a paper and
they can not help us, and they themselves "have an unhealthy mind but went about prescribing
medicine to others" (Donovan Hohn, New Republic). However, it would seem they had an idea of
what they were talking about. To just say that since one is stuck they can not help another with the
same issue is unfactory. They create a safe haven where people can retreat to, to search for a better
way when they cannot find it themselves. It is not always true

Emerson And Transcendentalism
Emerson was an American Transcendentalist poet who lived in the 1800's. His writing was heavily
influenced by the fact he was a transcendentalist. His writing is characterized by the way he
comprehended reality. Transcendentalism is when someone's knowledge comes from intuition and
imagination not logic or senses. A transcendentalist is a person who accepts these ideas not as
religious beliefs but as a way to understand life. They look at themselves, nature, and art for the
answers to life's questions. This search for answers is seen in Emerson's writing by theme of not
listening to society and following the divine idea that he believes is inside of yourself. Emerson is
one of the central figures in the American Transcendentalists group that use literature and
philosophy to write. The writers in this group all shared the common belief that they could transcend
or move beyond ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the essay Emerson talks about points including the importance of thinking for yourself, acting
independently, to avoid consistency, and be a risk taker. The motto that is brought up in the first part
of the essay is "trust thyself." Emerson explains not to trust the opinions of others because those
opinions are cowardly and without inspiration or hope. Someone who trusts themselves can trust
their own opinions because these are the people who are original. He also talks about how we should
ignore the conformity of society throughout the first part of the essay, this is seen when he says "the
only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong is against it" (Emerson). In other words, it
is better to be true to an evil nature of your own will then the behave "correctly" because it is what
society demands. The first section of this essay is about the need of acting independently and
trusting yourself to avoid the conformity of

Comparing Emerson And Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson says "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the
conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide." This quote is immensely true you should
always be true to yourself and you shouldn't envy people you don't really know that much about.
You should stay true to yourself because if you want to imitate someone who are killing yourself
figuratively. How is your inner self alive if you don't display it no one knows who you really are so
your soul is dead to others. They would just see that you are like everyone else or like someone else
in particular and then you will be compared to the other person which isn't what people usually
want. If someone were to compare you to someone and you are just off there in the corner hearing
this and they are saying "blah blah he's/she's exactly like so and so" and you are just like no I'm me ,
but you have no proof because what they are saying is true. Your inner self would never be known to
people if you like to hide away and just do what it is popular they we'll see you as just no one
special and everyone wants to have something different about them that's what makes people
awesome there is not two of the same exact people, so why would you want to strive to be exactly
like another person. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
If you don't know the person well there may be something about that person that other people know
so they make you think you do that which could be something bad, so that is negative on your part.
For example if you dress like a pot head people are gonna think you are a pot head simple as that.
People like to make assumptions and you don't want those assumptions to be

Ralph Emerson Biography
Ralph Waldo Emerson, born May 25, 1803, grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. Ralph, son of Ruth
Haskins and William Emerson, was the fourth of eighth children born from Ruth and William
Emerson. Although he had many siblings, only few survived throughout his childhood. William
Emerson, Ralph's father, was one of Boston's leading citizens, and a Unitarian Minister. Ralph went
to Boston Latin School in 1812 when he was nine years old. In October 1817, at age fourteen,
Emerson went to Harvard College and was arranged freshman messenger for the president, requiring
Emerson to fetch errant students and send messages to faculty. As a student, he studied more and
relaxed less than some of his classmates. He won several minor prizes for his writing. When ...
There he was the center of discussion known as the Transcendentalist Club; where the members met
up to discuss religious and philosophical issues. They spoke out against rationalism and materialism
some movements best known are the essays by Emerson and Walden's: Life in the wood (1854). The
name Transcendental Club was given to the group by the public and not by its participants. The
name was coined in a January 1837 review of Emerson's essay "Nature" and was intended
disparagingly. Ralph and another group member created the theory of Transcendentalism, meaning;
humanity and nature are in essence the same are merely different manifestations of the divine spirt.
Transcendentalism has been one of the most influential ideas in American history.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "Self–Reliance" is the most widely known and misunderstood

Emerson Education Summary

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