Choose two direct quotes from Emerson's Self-Reliance. Explain what you believe they mean and how they connect to Transcendentalism.
Example: (Do this twice--once for each quote.)
Emerson wrote about the beauty, timeliness, and individuality of roses: "These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God today." Emerson is encouraging people just "to be"--to bloom where they are planted without trying to compare themselves to others before or yet to come, and to make the most of the present. Man should be content with his beauty and purpose and not worry about conforming to "tradition." Transcendentalism encourages individuality--freedom from conforming to others' ideas--and recognizing that everything has its time and place in nature.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteHi, Stephanie. Welcome to the Emerson discussion.
Delete"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits" - Albert Einstein
ReplyDelete1. "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater." Emerson criticizes corporation like joint-stock companies and their buisness.These types of buisnesses are inconsiderate of the people who buy off them, because those people are only worried about securing their finances. This connects with transcendentalism, because it is the creation of the "other" or the seperation of classes.
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2. "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 os he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." Conformity within society and individuality in solitude are easy tasks to complete. The bigger challenge comes from being an individual while joining in with society; and whoever achieves that is a great man. This connects with transcendentalism, because it involves individualism and frontier.
"I hope in these days we have heard the last of conformity and consistency. Let the words be gazetted and ridiculous henceforward".
ReplyDeleteThis quote means that Emerson hopes that society stops going with what they was taught and they would move on and do what makes them happy. He also means that he hopes it is left behind and never done again.
What they "were" taught.
DeleteWhat does "gazetted" mean?
Second quote?
"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion..." Emerson is stating that if you try being someone your aren't then you are killing who you are meant to be. You have to take yourself as you are and accept it. This quote relates to Transcendentalism because it is telling people to be confident with who they are.
ReplyDeleteEmerson wrote about non-conformity and the belief in human goodness. "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness." Emerson states that people should not go along with the crowd, but instead, he/she should be self-reliant and responsible. According to the author, people should also be optimistic and idealistic. Instead of allowing negative thoughts or fears to make an impact on a person's actions, Emerson encourages the reader to explore the aspect of human goodness. He finds it important for others to have confidence and to simply tackle a problem first-hand. Transcendentalism encourages self-reliance, non-conformity, and optimism.
ReplyDelete"He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time". Man cannot be happy until they live free and don't go along with society.
ReplyDelete"Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members." Emerson states that anywhere you go there will be something trying to stop you. This relates to Transcendentalism because it has to do with optimism and that even though you are put in difficult situations you can get through it.
ReplyDelete"Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world" page 247.
ReplyDelete"The virtue in most request is conformity. Self reliance is its aversion" page 247. These relate to transcendentalism by talking about non conformity and being confident in self reliance.
"We first share the life by which things exist, and afterwards see them as appearances in nature, and forget that we have shared their cause." Emerson wrote about how people only pay attention to the matters he/she deem as being important instead of focusing on his/her surroundings. Humans tend to forget that they are a part of nature and its continuous cycle by taking it for granted. This translates to transcendentalism because nature is the key to spirituality.
ReplyDelete1. "The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried" (245). Emerson is saying that new things will come to you throughout your life. You will go through different experiences and you will not know if you're good at something until you try it. This relates to Transcendentalism by telling you to be optimistic.
ReplyDelete2. "Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you; the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being" (246). Emerson is saying that God put everyone where they are for a reason. No matter what the reason, man should appreciate it and work hard to achieve what they want in life. Everyone needs to believe in themselves and work hard to succeed in life. This relates to Transcendentalism by talking about being confident in one's self.
“Society is a wave. The wave moves onward, but the water of which it is composed does not. The same particle does not rise from the valley to the ridge. Its unity is only phenomenal.” This quote from “Self-Reliance” shows ideas of transcendentalism by expressing non-conformity. It gives the example of how the wave does not affect the entire ocean, it only moves throughout it. Transcendentalism teaches the same idea of how we don’t have to conform to the things of this earth. We initially all have things that pass us by, but, we don’t have to follow where those things lead. We are our own person and can make decisions for ourselves.
ReplyDelete“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.” This quote from “Self-Reliance” is another great expression of transcendentalism. It focuses on self-confidence and how we, the people, need to stay true to ourselves. It’s also saying that if we try and act like someone else it takes even more work than just being yourself. With that being said transcendentalism shines a bright light on how we need to be who we truly want to be.
Emerson wrote about trusting yourself "Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string." Emerson is encouraging everyone to trust themselves, then you can truly be content in whatever you do or wherever you go. This relates to transcendentalism by encourages believing in ones self.
ReplyDelete"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your heart is true for all men, -- that is genius." Emerson is stating that your view of the world is related to your view of yourself. Our minds can be deceitful and misleading, but our hearts only bring truth. Transcendentalism encourages self-reliance, confidence, and optimism which the quote suggests.
ReplyDeleteQuote 1: “Though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.” (p.245)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is related to transcendentalism through the beauty and nature aspect.
Quote2: “nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” This quote is related to transcendentalism through being comfortable in yourself and being self reliant and finding peace.
1 “It must be that when God speaketh he should communicate, not one thing, but all things; should fill the world with his voice; should scatter forth light, nature, time, souls, from the centre of the present thought; and new date and new create the whole.”
ReplyDeleteGod communicates all things to the whole world through nature, time, souls, in the present time and in the future also. We must live for ourselves and rely on ourselves to here the communication no matter the form it comes in.
2 “But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time.”
The man relies on himself to use nature to find god. He has to live for himself in the past as well as the future. But he must be careful as he thinks of the future.
"Honor is venerable to us because it is no ephemeris. It is always ancient virtue. We worship it to-day because it is not of to-day. We love it and pay it homage,
ReplyDeletebecause it is not a trap for our love and homage, but is self-dependent, self-derived, and therefore
of an old immaculate pedigree, even if shown in a young person".
-Honor is something that we appreciate even though it has no real value. We value it because it is self-reliant and strong, like people in transcendentalism.
"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion." Emerson says that you must accept yourself for who you are and pretending to be something you're not is a waste of time. Transcendentalism encourages non-conformity and not going with the crowd, and being confident in yourself.
ReplyDelete"Honor is venerable to us because it is no ephemeris. It is always ancient virtue. We worship it to-day because it is not of to-day. We love it and pay it homage,
ReplyDeletebecause it is not a trap for our love and homage, but is self-dependent, self-derived, and therefore
of an old immaculate pedigree, even if shown in a young person".
-Honor is something that we appreciate even though it has no real value. We value it because it is self-reliant and strong, like people in transcendentalism.
"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the
ReplyDeletemanhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to
surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but
names and customs".
-Some people believe that everyone in the world is against them, and most of the time they are right. No one is going to go out of there way for you.
You should be open and willing to accept to change and not be part of the big picture(fall in with the society).
"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string." Emerson used individualism, which is how it is transcendentalism. He used individualism to help you believe in yourself. This quote refers to how you are viewed by others it shows your outward appearance. Another aspect of transcendentalism from this quote is it refers to self-confidence.
ReplyDelete1. “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.” This quote is an example of transcendentalism because it has to do with optimism, confidence and non-conformity. To be confident and believe your own thought is the key in transcendentalism and that is expressed in this quote.
ReplyDelete2. “They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side.” This quote has to do with the idea of transcendentalism because of its optimism, non-conformity and belief in human goodness. It states that you should always believe in yourself over others, be yourself and be positive about it.
"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."
ReplyDelete"He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time."
The first quote speaks of the transcendentalist belief that you should believe in yourself and how that's considered genius. The second quote speaks of how a person can't be happy without honestly knowing nature and seeing above time which transcendentalists believe that to truly know God you must truly know nature.
Emerson wrote about excepting yourself "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till." Emerson is trying to inform you that trying to be like everyone else will ultimately strip you of your identity. You must except yourself for who you are and make yourself feel worthy, because until you feel confident about yourself, you cannot make your make anywhere. This relates to transcendentalism by talking about non-conformity and trusting ones self.
ReplyDelete"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." Emerson is stating that you should believe in yourself and believe in your decisions. This quote relies to transcendentalism by talking about self reliance and self confidence.
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"We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other." Emerson states in this quote that we are afraid of life itself. This quote relates to transcendentalism by talking about self reliance and non conformity.
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote relates to transcendentalism because it talks about your appearance on the inside, self reliance, and yourself confidence.
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“There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.”
This is talking about don’t be someone you’re not because it’s a waste of time but you should believe in yourself and self confidence.
“A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages.” Emerson suggests that an individual should listen to themselves and follow what their own beliefs are.
ReplyDelete“Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say `I think,' `I am,' but quotes some saint or sage.” People used to be stern and humble. Now, people are never stating their own opinion or speaking their voice.
ReplyDelete"To believe your own thought..." This quote is about being confident and believing in yourself. You need to be self aware of yourself in nature, which is a key point of transcendentalism.
ReplyDeleteYou mustn't stop in the middle of a sentence. This is a very important sentence that defines genius!
Delete1. "The persons who make up a nation to-day, next year die, and their experience with them." This quote from 'Self-Reliance' shows that when we look upon a society we see it as a whole but we do not see the individuals that make up that society. Over time the society will stay the same but the people die and a new generation takes their place. This relates to Transcendentalism by showing the individuality of man as compared to a group.
ReplyDelete2. "He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time." This quote from 'Self-Reliance' is showing that for man to be happy he needs to understand and live with nature. Once the relationship with nature is achieved he can be happy. This shows Transcendentalism by showing that nature is key to spirituality.
"The nonchalance of boys who are sure of a dinner, and would disdain as much as a lord to do or say aught to conciliate one, is the healthy attitude of human nature." Everyone goes through I time where they are ungrateful for what they have just as the lord himself, but when we overcome that then we are just as human as everyone else in other word you're a greater person then what you were before. This deals with transcendentalism because it deals with self reliance and how people deal with their own problems other than those of others.
ReplyDelete“Let a man then know his worth, and keep things under his feet. Let him not peep or steal, or skulk up and down with the air of a charity-boy, a bastard, or an interloper, in the world which exists for him. But the man in the street, finding no worth in himself which corresponds to the force which built a tower or sculptured a marble god, feels poor when he looks on these.” A man should know his worth so he doesn’t look down on himself. If he doesn’t then he could not be as worth as he should be. This quote deals with transcendentalism because it also deals with self reliance and how one needs to know who they are and who they can be.
"I hope in these days we have heard the last of conformity and consistency. Let the words be gazetted and ridiculous henceforward. Instead of the gong for dinner, let us hear a whistle from the Spartan fife. Let us never bow and apologize more. 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. I will stand here for humanity, and though I would make it kind, I would make it true. Let us affront and reprimand the smooth mediocrity and squalid contentment of the times, and hurl in the face of custom, and trade, and office, the fact which is the upshot of all history, that there is a great responsible Thinker and Actor working wherever a man works; that a true man belongs to no other time or place, but is the centre of things. Where he is, there is nature." This quote reflects the transcendent thought of every person having some piece of deism. Man should not conform himself to fit the needs and beliefs of others but instead should yearn to see the truth within himself. This inner truth is believed to be the center of mans universe.
ReplyDelete"As our Religion, our Education, our Art look abroad, so does our spirit of society. All men plume themselves on the improvement of society, and no man improves".
This quote means that we as human beings spend our whole lives trying to appease others and improve society as a whole. We are flawed in this sense of thinking because we as the individual are never improved upon ourselves.
1. "He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time." No man can live happily until he moves on from his past and lives for today.
ReplyDelete2. " Society acquires new arts, and loses old instincts." Society doesn't always continue but if you separate yourself from society you can.