Self Reliance Essays

Self Reliance Essays Self Reliance Essay Self Reliance Essay The definition of self reliance is: reliance on ones own powers and resources rather than those of others. Self Reliance can mean a lot of different things to different people. Ralph Wald Emerson describes self reliance as being yourself, being unique, and having your own opinion. Being a self reliant is not something that is easy. It can be very challenging. Self reliance is an important skill to have. In Emerson Self Reliance we are taught to trust ourselves. Sometimes we let society tell us who we should be and we depend on what everyone else is doing round us. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world (Emerson). This quote meaner that if you free yourself from yourself than you will be able to enjoy the world. Sometimes we let ourselves bring us down instead of other people, Just because we are scared of being Judged. Another quote from Emerson that I find important is It is easy in the world to live after the worlds opinion (Emerson). This quote meane r that is easy to follow what others are doing. We live in a world where everyone finds the need to be anyone but homeless. Conformation cannot be justified because of the liberties and self- beliefs surrendered to fit in. Therefore the only justifiable means of reaching your true God-given potential in society is being self-reliant. Self-trust and self-consciousness in society are indirect variations to each other and in that the need to conform to society is no longer a problem, because the level of your self-reliance has increased, and self-consciousness decreased. Emerson defines genius. 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. † (539) Man is inclined to dismiss his own inner thoughts and ideas, and yet is enthralled by what he sees in others. The belief that one’s own true thoughts are worthy regardless of others’ genius is to trust oneself, and be self-reliant. : Emerson, Ralph Waldo. â€Å"Self-Reliance. † Harper American Literature Single Volume . 3rd Edition. 1999: 536-539