Self-Reliance

by

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Ralph Waldo Emerson Character Analysis

The author. Emerson’s voice in this essay is a confident one that makes controversial and provocative statements designed to move the reader to listen to his or her own voice and ignore societal pressures. Emerson’s perspective in the essay is rooted in transcendentalist thought, especially in his emphasis on the importance of the individual, reliance on intuition, the underlying unity of everything, and the appreciation of nature.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes in Self-Reliance

The Self-Reliance quotes below are all either spoken by Ralph Waldo Emerson or refer to Ralph Waldo Emerson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Transcendentalism Theme Icon
).
Paragraphs 3-5 Quotes

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 20
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 6-9 Quotes

Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), Society
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), The Individual
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 10-11 Quotes

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:

For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 12-16 Quotes

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), The Individual
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 21-24 Quotes

We denote this primary wisdom as Intuition, whilst all later teachings are tuitions.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:

We lie in the lap of immense intelligence, which makes us receivers of its truth and organs of its activity.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 35-50 Quotes

Beauty, convenience, grandeur of thought and quaint expression are as near to us as to any, and if the American artist will study with hope and love the precise thing to be done by him, considering the climate, the soil, the length of the day, the wants of the people, the habit and form of the government, he will create a house in which all these will find themselves fitted, and taste and sentiment will be satisfied also.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), The Individual , Society
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis:

Society never advances.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), Society
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
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Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes in Self-Reliance

The Self-Reliance quotes below are all either spoken by Ralph Waldo Emerson or refer to Ralph Waldo Emerson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Transcendentalism Theme Icon
).
Paragraphs 3-5 Quotes

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 20
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 6-9 Quotes

Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), Society
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), The Individual
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 10-11 Quotes

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:

For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 12-16 Quotes

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), The Individual
Page Number: 24
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 21-24 Quotes

We denote this primary wisdom as Intuition, whilst all later teachings are tuitions.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:

We lie in the lap of immense intelligence, which makes us receivers of its truth and organs of its activity.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker)
Page Number: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
Paragraphs 35-50 Quotes

Beauty, convenience, grandeur of thought and quaint expression are as near to us as to any, and if the American artist will study with hope and love the precise thing to be done by him, considering the climate, the soil, the length of the day, the wants of the people, the habit and form of the government, he will create a house in which all these will find themselves fitted, and taste and sentiment will be satisfied also.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), The Individual , Society
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis:

Society never advances.

Related Characters: Ralph Waldo Emerson (speaker), Society
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis: