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.
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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.” I chose this quote because it says that if you believe something is good for you and others around you then you will act on it. That you are confident with your choice because you believe in your heart that it is right. This relates to Transcendentalism because it includes one’s intuition and imagination.
ReplyDelete“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.” This quote says that a man has unknown power that is inside him and he will not know what he can accomplish until he tries. This quote relates to Transcendentalism because it again involves one’s intuition and also involves one’s capability while tying it in with nature.
"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." To me this shows that if you have an idea so bold that you believe it to be best for everyone then you have found a solution to man kind's problems. This shows a state of self-reliance because it was formed from the mind of one man not many thinkers working together.
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." Emerson comes out and says that man no longer holds life in his hands but believes that a saint or sage does. In saying so he shows that man has become heavily reliant on society and can no longer fend for himself. Man has grown weak and timid, he hides behind a person of power hoping his battles will be fought for him.
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” This quote is relative to Transcendentalism in that instead of trusting other in regards to what you should believe, or trusting the obvious teachings, you trust yourself and what you can accomplish along with what you believe is right.
ReplyDelete“The relations of the soul to the divine spirit are so pure, that it is profane to seek to interpose helps.” Basically, this quote emphasizes the close and intricate relationship between one’s soul and spirit. These two things are so intertwined that help from other outside sources are unnecessary.
"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." Do what you believe is right not what other people believe, and keep a strong mind but don't let it ruin your full potential. "Absolve you to yourself and you shall have the suffrage of the world"
ReplyDeleteIf you free yourself from yourself, you will have a better view of nature and the world.
Emerson wrote: "Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string." Emerson is encouraging people to believe in there selves because everyone has that same iron string but you have to trust yourself in order to be yourself. Transcendentalism encourages self-reliance and confidence.
ReplyDeleteEmerson wrote: "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members." Emerson is expressing how society wants man to act, talk, walk, and look the same and if you don't act, talk, walk, or look the same as everyone else society looks down on you. Transcendentalism encourages nonconformity, passive resistance and optimism.
Haley Freshour, Period 2
ReplyDelete"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 is encouraging people to trust the idea or thought that occurs in their own mind, rather than conform to the ideas of others, which seem to be better than their own. The lustre of the firmament of bards and sages refers to the attractiveness of the knowledge of the wise above you. Emerson states that you should not conform to those who are perceived as wiser than you, and instead you need to learn how to recognize your own thoughts. This encourages the idea of individuality of Transcendentalism.
"There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence." A rose does not take the color or shape from other flowers. It is wholly itself. When a person realizes who they are and does not conform to anyone else's thoughts or ideas, they are perfect in every moment they are alive. This also relates to individuality and the freedom from conformity that it brings. Be yourself, and you will live as fully as you can. Live in the present and don't tarnish your mind with thoughts of yesterday or the future.
Mikayla.Stenersen: In the 1st paragraph Emerson wrote we had to express ourselves and except ourselves. " It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work manifested by cowards." Emerson is saying that God will not reveal himself to a man that will not believe and reveal his true self. This is an example of transcendentalism because it infers that God and man have a direct communion. Another quote located in the 4th paragraph: "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind". Is stating that your thoughts, your believes are special and they do mean something to God, and others. This is transcendentalism because it goes against the puritan belief which is only a select few is aloud to speak their mind.
ReplyDelete"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." In this quote Emerson is saying that the great men around us that know their minds will not be tricked into foolishness. Emerson believed that the poor minded were destined to fail, unless that trained their minds. Transcendentalism talks about philosophy-- the study of general and fundamental problems, and is a way of addressing those problems.
ReplyDelete"A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace." In this quote Emerson is talking about how only hard work and a good conscious can make a man feel truly happy and relieved. If a man can not work and has a corrupt mind, then that man can not feel happy at his life. Emerson believes that a man can only feel happy when he has done his best. Transcendentalism states that a person can only be pure and blessed if they bring it upon themselves. This means that you can only be pure and happy when you work to bring it upon yourself.
Emerson said to “Speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again.” Emerson is telling people to think in his own way. A person should not follow another; people should think for themselves and speak for what they believe in. Transcendentalism encourages individuality and people thinking for themselves.
ReplyDeleteEmerson also wrote that “a man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best.” Like transcendentalism, he is saying that people can trust themselves in what to do. People can think for themselves and know that it is the right thing to do.
Emerson wrote: "Trust thyself: Every heart vibrates to that iron string." Emerson is encouraging people to believe in their self and follow their instincts, not to overlook what their heart is trying to tell them. Transcendentalism teaches that inspiration should come from within.
ReplyDeleteEmerson wrote: " To be great is to be misunderstood..." Emerson is saying that not everyone is understood that the people who are great weren't understood. A transcendentalism idea is the belief in human goodness.
"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string." This quote is telling everyone to believe in themselves and that every second counts. I believe the "iron string" refers to the memory that is taking place. One might remember this day until death. This quote relates to transcendentalism by showing the affect of human beings in the aspect of nature. It shows that humans should believe in everything they want to accomplish.
ReplyDelete"He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness," This quote means that the person who had won fame should not be held back from being able to explore the goodness of life. This quote relates to transcendentalism by believing that humans should be able to explore life and nature, despising what one person might win. Transcendentalism expresses the freedom of humans, and how the humans should be able to live their lives through life and nature in both of these quotes.
"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" (246). In this quote, Emerson is encouraging the reader to trust themselves. Accept where you are, and the path that God has chosen for you. Accept the community you live with, and the people you are around. Accept the things that have happened in your life; the weird twists and turns, the strange occurrences, every event that has ever happened. It all connects somehow, and it'll all make sense one day, so no matter how difficult, accept it all, and live life.
ReplyDelete"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). In this quote, Emerson is talking about how every man has power, and neither him, nor anyone knows what he can do, unless he tries. No one knows what they are capable of until they try. Everyone is capable of something. They just have to figure out what that may be.
With the statement "To be great is to be misunderstood," Emerson ends his paragraph of being an individual body, secure with thoughts and beliefs unique to that person. This sentence stands as one of the key principles of Transcendentalism, individuality. Emerson scorns those who seek consistency in life and argues that those who went against the societal flow are the persons most well remembered in history. He urges the reader to avoid conforming to the same mindset and daily life, asking the reader to pilot his own ship of thoughts in the sea of the universe.
ReplyDelete"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 quote tells use to be our selves and not to "envy" or "imitate" others. He tells us to take our selves for all we have the good and the bad. he uses the example of the corn to show how we can make our selves better with the qualities "bestowed" to us. This shows the transcendental idea of non-conformity and confidence.
ReplyDelete"A man is relieve and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace." this quote tells the transcendental idea of human goodness. If one puts there heart in to some thing it will be happy and if one doesn't it wont mean much and will trouble oneself.
''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." Emerson is saying that there is a power that everyone has that no one knows, a power that they don't even know until they try . He also says its a new power because at the time individuality was new to the era, the times were changing. This quote connects to transcendentalism because it incorporates the belief that all nature is symbolic of the spirit and God is present in every aspect of nature.
ReplyDelete" Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day." Emerson is urging us to speak our minds even if we change our minds later. This quote connects with transcendentalism by incorporating the transcendentalist belief that everyone can reach ultimate truths through spiritual intuition.
"The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs" (247). This quote means that a person should be unique and resist the urge to be molded into what society believes is right. Individualism is the key to prosperity, along with Transcendentalism and being yourself.
ReplyDelete"Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood...." (247). Emerson is saying that all the great people in the world were individuals who did not succumb to the temptation of being conformed to the ideas that society approves of. They walked to the beat of their own drums, and didn't let anyone stand in their way, despite the chance of being ridiculed, like Transcendentalism.
"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind," with this quote Emerson points to the transcendentalist idea of being self-aware. The reader needs to remember that their thoughts and ideas are unique to them in nature. These thoughts can transcend your physical body and represent yourself in a different state of being.
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