Self-Reliance
Definition
"Self-Reliance" is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson that contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes, the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow their own instincts and ideas.
Analogy
Think of "Self-Reliance" as a self-help book. It encourages you to trust your gut feelings, be independent in thought and action, much like how modern self-help books guide us towards personal growth.
Related terms
Transcendentalism: The philosophical movement that emphasizes inherent goodness of people and nature which forms the basis for Emerson's essay.
Individualism: A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control which is a key theme in Self-Reliance.
Nonconformity: Refusal to conform to an established or conventional creed, rule, or practice; another major theme in Self-Reliance.
"Self-Reliance" appears in:
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