Emerson's Self-Reliance

Individuality

Self-Reliance, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is simply about relying on yourself, and only yourself to make decisions in your life. Emerson tries to tell us to believe in ourselves and that what we believe is the only way to live by. He tells us, “to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius.” Emerson wants us to live completely how we want to live. He also wants us to do what we think is right for us. We live a consistent, day-to-day schedule; and we think the opinion we believe one day will be our opinion for the rest of our lives. Emerson disagrees, however, he is tells us we are able to think differently according to the day we are living. He means we don’t have to have the same opinions for the rest of our lives, even if that is the opinion we have had for a part of our lives. No one can become the same person they were the day before, because we learn new things every day that, consequently, impact our voice.

I found that Emerson contradicts himself throughout the entire text. He wants us to decide what we want to do ourselves, but isn’t he telling us what to do? He states, at the end of the essay, “Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of your principles.” Isn’t that contradictory

It is good to travel for pleasure. Emerson tells us people who travel for their own enjoyment, do not seek within themselves. I say people who travel will be less ignorant, and therefore, will develop their true personality to rely on themselves. If someone was to travel, they will gain information as to how others are living. If someone was to see how others are living, they will be able to change their viewpoints every day, as Emerson suggested in the beginning of the essay. “...live ever in a new