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An essay on importance of honesty
Social norms modern day
The Importance of Not Lying
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Questioning… something that every human being has done no matter what part of the social class you are in. Who we are, why are we here, are questions that many try to figure out through studying our society. However, the only way to truly answer those questions is by looking within yourself and allowing to be enlighten by the devin. This is the way Emerson believed it should be when it came to how one should envision themselves. To begin with Emerson was a huge believer in being unique and once mentioned “Imitation is suicide”. He believed that in order for someone to become unique they will have to stop believing in that they had a predetermined place in the world. In other words give up the fact that one will forever be stuck in a certain situation or …show more content…
Always look at things in different ways their are various ways in which to perceive an idea or object. However, it important to “Speak what you think today in hard words” meaning it is important to speak what you have in mind and not letting others ignorance cloud your own judgment. Never let what others think of you stop you from speaking up in any sort of way. For example in society many fear the what others might think of them so they instead decided to stay quiet and follow the herd. If more people decided to express themselves without the fear of persecution from others there would be more peaceful protest fighting for what they believe is wrong. Also by doing this you might influence others into becoming unique. Although, it is important to admit when you are at wrong never stop expanding your mind and allow other various types of ideals to come in place. When the time come “ … speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again” meaning even if you end up contradicting yourself later on it 's okay. People are allowed to change they way they think in a matter of seconds if they wish to but in the end it will be because you now know
Emerson and Franklin both had very similar ideas in regard to human behavior, but they believed in opposing outcomes from following these similar life styles. They both believed that by controlling ones desire and impulsive nature one could better themselves and their purpose in society. However their end results are very contrasting, Emerson is bettering himself for the discovery of knowledge, Franklin is bettering himself to improve his image and his money making ability. They also contrast on many of their fundamental beliefs of what the duty of the individuals role in society is. Franklin gives a process by which every individual can better themselves and the public as a whole. Emerson’s ideas on the other hand revolve around the idea of self discovery and the betterment of ones mind through the acquisition of knowledge leading to the Universal Truth.
One of the primary issues that Emerson tried to convey was that one must follow what they believe is true for themselves and not listen to what other people think. He states, “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps perfect sweetness the independence of solitude(Emerson 151).” One of the definitions of the word “world” is “human society.” The word “opinion” means “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.” By putting these words together, Emerson is implying that the “world’s opinion” is the general point of view accepted by most of society. Emerson also uses the word, “solitude” which means, “the quality or state of being alone or remote from society.” By also using the word “solitude” in this sentence, he shows a contrast between the majority (society), and the individual. What Emerson suggests is that if one can live in a world full of people who think a certain way because they were taught to believe that way, but still hold your own ground and follow what you believe, you are a great person.
Emerson provides many examples to help illustrate his point. In the beginning he gives the example of an acquaintance of his, Sir Charles Fellowes. He explains how he
He wants us to trust our inner drives and be honest with the relationships that come within our life experiences. Personally, I agree with Emerson’s philosophy on life. In a world where there is so much emphasis on social acceptance I personally feel ones real value should come from deep within relying on their personal relationship with God. Emerson is very effective in presenting his argument by his word choice, his use of figurative language, and his many references back to God and society. Society today happens to be the same kind of idea. We look at what society tells you to be instead of focusing on our own self which is the most important part of what God tells you to
Don't emulate others and be yourself. Emerson said, " Imitation is suicide " and Thoreau said, " If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man." If you don't believe in your innate power; if you don't follow your intuition, you will spontaneously follow others and kill your soul. Both of them also discuss nonconformity. Emerson states, " who so would be a man must be a nonconformist ." To be great you must follow your instincts and you have to be yourself. Don't imitate others. Thoreau said, " a man laid out alive and standing , and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accomplishments. " People misunderstood great figures as Emerson said, " To be great is to be misunderstood" and Thoreau said, " They are commonly treated as enemies. " Both state that people will always treat you with injustice so don't follow them by being a conformist and be unique, great people always were misunderstood and treated as
He writes, “all things real are so by so much virtue as they contain.” Emerson says that things that are unique and individual are real, so therefore people who are mere imitations of society are neither unique nor individual. This makes it impossible for them to have distinct characteristics and qualities. A person with greater self reliance, Emerson’s goal for society, is an individual who brings value to themselves and others. In his closing paragraph, Emerson drives the final point home in his case for self-reliance. “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” The major goal in life is seen as being at peace with oneself, a goal nearly impossible if one is an imitation of someone else. Becoming self reliant is not so simple as making a single decision, it is a journey. Emerson provides crucial explanation and motivation for one to become self-reliant, and leaves it to the reader to take this goal upon
“What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what the people think.” (Emerson, 552) demonstrates that Emerson wants individuals to discover their true self that have unique way of thinking and should have a strong sense of self; The strong sense of self is also presented by “A great man is coming to eat at my house. I do not wish to please him: I wish that he should wish to please me.” (Emerson, 555) while stating that nobody’s ideas should be less valued. Through “The one thing in the world of value, is, the active soul, --the soul, free, sovereign, active.” (Emerson, 539) he shows his preference of resisting influences thinkers in past brings because he believes individuals nowadays can come up with better ideas and reading old ones will hold creativity back. In case that Emerson sticks with the stand that everybody can look into themselves carefully and bring up brand new and great thoughts to contribute to the world, he has no compassion toward poor people. If each individual has ability to be self-reliant, and then the only reason why poor people are poor is that they do not even try to manage their destiny. Therefore, unlike Franklin, Emerson questions “Are they my poor?” (Emerson, 552) to blame poor people.
Although the society that we are living in is different than the one the Emerson's essay, the idea of fitting in still exists today. Although society and our minds make us think a certain way, we should always trust our better judgment instead of just conforming
At that point he claims he had more faith in individuals than God. In Nature he says: “Standing on the bare ground- my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space- all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal being circulate through me” (Emerson). Emerson is saying that he is God, and God is nature. This is the concept of the “over soul” which states that all together nature, God, and mankind create happiness. People at La Salle today are greatly influenced by religion. It is what La Salle was founded on and we continue to pray before every class. He compares religion to education in Nature: “Undoubtedly we have no questions to ask which are unanswerable. We must trust the perfection of the creation so far, as to believe that whatever curiosity the order of things has awakened in our minds, the order of things can satisfy”(Emerson). Emerson wanted the people to understand that they could find a materialistic answer to every question they ask from God (the Bible). A lot of students do not realize however, that religion extends outside of the school and church. God can be found everywhere in nature. Students today are not awed by the nature around them. They do not have the same respect for the ability just to be out in the wild. If Emerson were transported forward in time to
Since man can see all, it seems logical that therefore he can define it however he should choose (Emerson implies this later in the essay). Therefore, man also can define himself Man can create his own world in the world created for him. Unfortunately, this may again lead to the corrupt society that Emerson condemns.
I believe that, essentially, life consists of a series of choices. A grouping of these choices in one direction or another makes us who we are, and ultimately we have control over our lives. What makes one person different from another is his own set of choices. When going through life’s motions, we develop certain worldviews and ideas and values to live by. We develop an opinion of what makes a person “great.” In the well-known essay “Self-Reliance”, Ralph Waldo Emerson provides a beautiful way of approaching these choices, and he reveals a very inspiring set of values centralized around going through life answering only to yourself. I love the way Emerson evaluates the society we live in, and how he radically encourages being misunderstood and nonconformist. Emerson, like myself, exhibits values of saying exactly what you think and living only by what you believe to be the best.
Firstly, Emerson is known as one of the greatest figure of the spirituality in the world. He decides to quit the Church thinking that the profession was antiquated; and that form of commemorating Chris did not fit to him. He moves on from the Church and away from the religious authority to an individualistic state of expression. He believes in the idea that the whole life is connected to God and defines all of the life as divine. The following quote expresses his faith: “Anyone, at any place and time, can have direct and immediate access to the central truths and experience of life itself.”(Emerson). By this message hi truly states that all of the human beings have the ability to be connected with the God anywhere at any time. Furthermore, he believes in a divine soul that all of us are able to be connected with Him in a relaxed state. Emerson’s inspiration comes completely from ...
Ralph Waldo Emerson, nineteenth century poet and writer, expresses a philosophy of life, based on our inner self and the presence of the soul. Emerson regarded and learned from the great minds of the past, he says repeatedly that each person should live according to his own thinking. I will try to explain Emerson’s philosophy, according to what I think is the central theme in all his works. “Do not seek answers outside yourself”. This is the main idea of Waldo’s philosophy.
Sealts, Merton M. Jr. "Emerson as a Teacher" Rpt in Emerson's Centenary Essays. Joel Meyerson ed.
Emerson begins the essay by explaining that many people are taught "rules and particulars" to decide what is good art, and therefore deem themselves worthy critics although they have no feeling for art in their soul. He states that intellectual men, perhaps the cold Unitarians from which he broke away, theologians, and modern 'poets' do not acknowledge a relationship between the physical world and the mind and then praises the "highest minds" (such as Swedenborg, Plato and Heraclitus) who instead examine everything to its fullest manifold meaning.