Emerson and the "Big Ideas"
Individualism
The first line in Emerson' Nature, "To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society" (Emerson 180). This is an obvious example of individualism because he is saying that One must not follow the crowd. Nature is often described as an escape from society. Nature is where one can be there own person. In order to be your own person, you cannot form to society. We must escape from the pressure of society to be like everyone else.
Emerson also says, "Imitation is suicide" (Emerson 183). By being someone else, you are killing who you are. You are killing you individual identity. If you are to be someone else, then you might as well not live at all.
Emerson also says, "Imitation is suicide" (Emerson 183). By being someone else, you are killing who you are. You are killing you individual identity. If you are to be someone else, then you might as well not live at all.
Optimism
Emerson was an optimist about nature, the universe, and about our ability to know the truth. In his essay Nature, Emerson says, "There I feel that nothing can befall me in my life,--no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair" (Emerson 181). He is telling us that in nature nothing bad can happen. He is being optimist towards nature and the good it can bring him or anyone.
Emerson was an optimist about nature, the universe, and about our ability to know the truth. In his essay Nature, Emerson says, "There I feel that nothing can befall me in my life,--no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair" (Emerson 181). He is telling us that in nature nothing bad can happen. He is being optimist towards nature and the good it can bring him or anyone.
This quote is a great quote from Emerson. It truly shoos his optimism towards life. It is similar to say, "Live everyday as if it were your last." Everyone should take the most out of everyday. No matter how rough life may get, there is always something god in everyday even if it seems there is not.
Self Reliance
Emerson believes that if we believe we can be self reliant, we cannot go wrong. This is only if we trust our deepest instincts and our most basic beliefs. When we think we have found the truth, we should trust that feeling. In Self-Reliance, "The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none that he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried" (Emerson 184). We need to test ourselves and our own mind before we trust others.
This image is telling us to rely on ourselves for the future. In order to become who we want to be we need to trust ourselves. We have the power to decide who we will become and where we will go in life. You choose your own destiny; do not let anyone else choose it for you.
Emerson believes that if we believe we can be self reliant, we cannot go wrong. This is only if we trust our deepest instincts and our most basic beliefs. When we think we have found the truth, we should trust that feeling. In Self-Reliance, "The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none that he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried" (Emerson 184). We need to test ourselves and our own mind before we trust others.
Intuition
In Emerson's Self-Reliance, he states, "To believe your own thought, to believe what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men,--that is genius" (Emerson 183). This quote is telling us that we need to rely more on our own individual thinking. To have direct perception or insight.
In Emerson's Self-Reliance, he states, "To believe your own thought, to believe what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men,--that is genius" (Emerson 183). This quote is telling us that we need to rely more on our own individual thinking. To have direct perception or insight.
Go where your mind and heart want you o go. Trust your gut feeling and follow it, even if it strays away from the rest of world. Make your own path in life.
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