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Self-Reliance and Bravery Ralph Waldo Term Paper
Pages:5 (1540 words)
Sources:3
Subject:Personal Issues
Topic:Self Reliance
Document Type:Term Paper
Document:#43950445
This may seem cruel and ungenerous, but Emerson would argue that the most generous thing that can be done for people is to help them become individuals. That will benefit them more than tossing a dollar in the alms box. Hence, through his essay, he hopes to encourage others on their road to self-reliance.
The last few lines of "Self-Reliance" call on the readers to be brave and to trust in themselves because, ultimately, the only way for people to be happy is for them to be true to themselves. "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles" (Emerson168). Those principles are derived from within. People must determine what is right for themselves and Emerson takes into account the guidance of a divine being. Then, people must brave the limits that society will attempt to impose on them in society's constant search for conformity. Once people have learned to thrust their innermost hearts and have been individuals in the face of society, then they are ready to follow their own principles.
Works Cited
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance." Selections from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Ed. Stephen E. Whicher. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960.
Haines, Nancy. "Books and Man Thinking: Edification or False Idolatry? A Caution in Emerson's 'The American Scholar'." 13 January 1998. 11 November 2006. http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol1/issue1/emerson.htm
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "The Oversoul." Emerson Central. 1996-2001. 11 November 2006.…
Sample Source(s) Used
Works Cited
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. "Self-Reliance." Selections from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Ed. Stephen E. Whicher. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960.
Haines, Nancy. "Books and Man Thinking: Edification or False Idolatry? A Caution in Emerson's 'The American Scholar'." 13 January 1998. 11 November 2006. http://itech.fgcu.edu/&/issues/vol1/issue1/emerson.htm
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "The Oversoul." Emerson Central. 1996-2001. 11 November 2006. http://www.emersoncentral.com/oversoul.htm
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