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Self-Reliance and Other Essays
Essayist, poet, and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) propounded a transcendental idealism emphasizing self-reliance, self-culture, and individual expression. The six essays and one address included in this volume, selected from Essays, First Series (1841) and Essays, Second Series (1844), offer a representative sampling of his views outlining that moral idealism as well as a hint of the later skepticism that colored his thought. In addition to the celebrated title essay, the others included here are "History," "Friendship," "The Over-Soul," "The Poet," and "Experience," plus the well-known and frequently read Harvard Divinity School Address.
117 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1844
About the author
Ralph Waldo Emerson
3,034 books5,026 followersRalph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston in 1803. Educated at Harvard and the Cambridge Divinity School, he became a Unitarian minister in 1826 at the Second Church Unitarian. The congregation, with Christian overtones, issued communion, something Emerson refused to do. "Really, it is beyond my comprehension," Emerson once said, when asked by a seminary professor whether he believed in God. (Quoted in 2,000 Years of Freethought edited by Jim Haught.) By 1832, after the untimely death of his first wife, Emerson cut loose from Unitarianism. During a year-long trip to Europe, Emerson became acquainted with such intelligentsia as British writer Thomas Carlyle, and poets Wordsworth and Coleridge. He returned to the United States in 1833, to a life as poet, writer and lecturer. Emerson inspired Transcendentalism, although never adopting the label himself. He rejected traditional ideas of deity in favor of an "Over-Soul" or "Form of Good," ideas which were considered highly heretical. His books include Nature (1836), The American Scholar (1837), Divinity School Address (1838), Essays, 2 vol. (1841, 1844), Nature, Addresses and Lectures (1849), and three volumes of poetry. Margaret Fuller became one of his "disciples," as did Henry David Thoreau.
The best of Emerson's rather wordy writing survives as epigrams, such as the famous: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." Other one- (and two-) liners include: "As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect" (Self-Reliance, 1841). "The most tedious of all discourses are on the subject of the Supreme Being" (Journal, 1836). "The word miracle, as pronounced by Christian churches, gives a false impression; it is a monster. It is not one with the blowing clover and the falling rain" (Address to Harvard Divinity College, July 15, 1838). He demolished the right wing hypocrites of his era in his essay "Worship": ". . . the louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons" (Conduct of Life, 1860). "I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit, to get knowledge by raps on midnight tables, to learn the economy of the mind by phrenology, or skill without study, or mastery without apprenticeship" (Self-Reliance). "The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It puts an affront upon nature" (English Traits , 1856). "The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant." (Civilization, 1862). He influenced generations of Americans, from his friend Henry David Thoreau to John Dewey, and in Europe, Friedrich Nietzsche, who takes up such Emersonian themes as power, fate, the uses of poetry and history, and the critique of Christianity. D. 1882.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was his son and Waldo Emerson Forbes, his grandson.
The best of Emerson's rather wordy writing survives as epigrams, such as the famous: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." Other one- (and two-) liners include: "As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect" (Self-Reliance, 1841). "The most tedious of all discourses are on the subject of the Supreme Being" (Journal, 1836). "The word miracle, as pronounced by Christian churches, gives a false impression; it is a monster. It is not one with the blowing clover and the falling rain" (Address to Harvard Divinity College, July 15, 1838). He demolished the right wing hypocrites of his era in his essay "Worship": ". . . the louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons" (Conduct of Life, 1860). "I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit, to get knowledge by raps on midnight tables, to learn the economy of the mind by phrenology, or skill without study, or mastery without apprenticeship" (Self-Reliance). "The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It puts an affront upon nature" (English Traits , 1856). "The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant." (Civilization, 1862). He influenced generations of Americans, from his friend Henry David Thoreau to John Dewey, and in Europe, Friedrich Nietzsche, who takes up such Emersonian themes as power, fate, the uses of poetry and history, and the critique of Christianity. D. 1882.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was his son and Waldo Emerson Forbes, his grandson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
September 23, 2011
Ralph Waldo Emerson is the greatest writer who ever lived. I carry his collected essays around like a Mormon carries the Book of Mormon. Though I don't ride a bike. No one has every offered up more wisdom, with such jazzy tempo and energetic flow. He has a more extensive vocabulary than Shakespeare, and I believe he was the first writer who suffered from A.D.D. It is like the great UCLA professor Coulecourcio once said, "It's as if his sentences don't know each other." I appreciate that he doesn't try to make everything he says make perfect communicative sense. It pushes the reader to derive possible meanings, or to expand on the meanings that are present. That is a much more accurate depiction of the truth than most philosophers write, with their stupid, boring, flat, theoreticaly sound arguments.
I will die with fire in my heart for Emerson. He uplifts and expands my consciousness with every sentence.
WHIM!
I will die with fire in my heart for Emerson. He uplifts and expands my consciousness with every sentence.
WHIM!
August 2, 2013
Fantastic! I had a natural disposition from an early age to stand on my own ground apart from the crowd. I've embraced my own personal truth without the need to force my values and opinions upon others. This philosophy has awarded me popularity (and in some cases, intense enemies) throughout my life. There is no happiness quite like self-acceptance and the ability to be comfortable with one's own personality and conviction of beliefs. Ralph Waldo Emerson illuminates these truths with great vigor and testimony; that no outside source can make one happy, but that which emanates from within. Self-reliance is a CHOICE. Happiness is a choice... so few there are that find it in this life to the degree Emerson spells out in this awesome book. Anyone who applies the courage to BE who they are without fear of rejection or ridicule, finds the key to happiness in this life.
January 20, 2008
when i read this i was 20 and under the impression that what was shitty about the world and people could be changed and that me and my friends could make an impact for the better on people just by talking to them and reasoning with them.
since then i've lost god and watch w "win" back to back elections, so I guess you could say i'm a bit more jaded.
still, i like a lot of what emerson says. self-reliance cannot be underestimated. if only we chided ourselves for our mistakes instead of placing blame, and applauded ourselves for our success instead ascribing credit elsewhere.
i also love what he says about honesty. he talks about (and i'm paraphrasing) the annoying guest who tells lame stories and thinks he's funny so everyone laughs to spare his feelings and how that dishonesty gives the lame-o the idea that his stories are good and he's a funny guy so he keeps passing those stories on. only now the next crowd of people are victims since no one in the audience the first time around had the courtesy--and emerson refers to this as courtesy--to tell the guy his jokes are lame. of course, there are countless times when i've been in that situation. whether or not i tell the person their lame or not depends on how much alcohol i've consumed at the time.
since then i've lost god and watch w "win" back to back elections, so I guess you could say i'm a bit more jaded.
still, i like a lot of what emerson says. self-reliance cannot be underestimated. if only we chided ourselves for our mistakes instead of placing blame, and applauded ourselves for our success instead ascribing credit elsewhere.
i also love what he says about honesty. he talks about (and i'm paraphrasing) the annoying guest who tells lame stories and thinks he's funny so everyone laughs to spare his feelings and how that dishonesty gives the lame-o the idea that his stories are good and he's a funny guy so he keeps passing those stories on. only now the next crowd of people are victims since no one in the audience the first time around had the courtesy--and emerson refers to this as courtesy--to tell the guy his jokes are lame. of course, there are countless times when i've been in that situation. whether or not i tell the person their lame or not depends on how much alcohol i've consumed at the time.
May 17, 2020
Dijetetu od dobrog soja sve su vrline prirodne, a ne mukotrpno stečene.
Kada sam kupio Veselu nauku od Ničea i malo je prelistavao na početku knjige stojao je citiran Emerson. Potražio sam neku njegovu knjigu i našao Ogledi. Očit je njegov skroman uticaj na Ničea. Takođe je prisutan Platonov uticaj kao i nekih običnih ljudi koji su bez napora iskazivali određene stvari, a koje je Emerson vrlo vješto upijao.
Srž Emersonovog dijela Ogledi jeste da je Bog imanentan. Da je univerzum Duša, i da se u njemu dobro i zlo pripisuju kao prenosivi epiteti na ovo ili ono. Njegova premisa polazi od toga da kroz dušu apriori imamo usađeno određeno saznanje, i da ona kao svjetlost upravlja našim čulima, pa ukoliko je ona zaprljana, zaprljana su i naša čula. Jedinstvo božijeg duha i čovjekovog tijela je spoj koga nazivamo duša. Pa tako čovjek kao posljedica prestaje u duši, a Bog kao uzrok, počinje. Mi smo njen organ, dok su čula naši organi. Pored transcedencije, Emerson Bogu pripisuje i imanentnost; priroda kao Sveduša po njemu u potpunosti savršeno funkcioniše, njena etika joj omogućava da blista uz ukrase kao što su sunce i zvijezde. Priroda služi kao spona između Boga i čovjeka. Mi često više iz prirode saznajemo nego po svojoj volji. Emerson postavlja četiri dobra koja podbrno razrađuje u ovoj knjizi. Prvo to je materijalno dobro, pa ljepota, a zatim jezik i disciplina. Svaku lijepu pojavu koju čovjek zatekne u prirodi treba da vidi kao božiju milost. Svaka naša nastranost i izopačenost u prirodi je ogledalo naše otuđenosti u Bogu. Lisica i srndać bježe od nas. Medvjed i tigar nas rastržu.
April 30, 2019
Ralph Waldo Emerson is a spiritual experience, an intense one indeed, for everyone who is afraid of conformity, afraid of the loneliness that thinking for yourself can put you in. Emerson is here to remind you, that it not only ok, but it is your duty to think for youself, to find your own way, to look at the world with your own perspective, and there is nothing wrong about that, there is nothing to be afraid of, on the contrary, there is everything to gain, it is the only way you can live a fully authentic and rich life. For Emerson, every conformity and every imitation is a huge impoverishment to human existence, one should have the audacity to walk his own path.
I think that Emerson's thought, self-confidence and power does show itself more intensly in his Divinity School Adress more than his Self-reliance. His way of re interpreting the Christian religion according to his philosophical views, is something extremely important. What most of people would call a heresy is for him a way to reform religious thougth. His transcendental philosophy would at first apear incompatible with any arthodox religious thought, as it refuses some of the the fondamental premisses and dogmas of orthodoxy, but he saw it as an enrichemnt of christian spirituality now weekend by tradition and imitation.
I think that Emerson's thought, self-confidence and power does show itself more intensly in his Divinity School Adress more than his Self-reliance. His way of re interpreting the Christian religion according to his philosophical views, is something extremely important. What most of people would call a heresy is for him a way to reform religious thougth. His transcendental philosophy would at first apear incompatible with any arthodox religious thought, as it refuses some of the the fondamental premisses and dogmas of orthodoxy, but he saw it as an enrichemnt of christian spirituality now weekend by tradition and imitation.
June 14, 2021
Escrito por uno de los padres fundadores de la literatura norteamericana es un libro que llama a creer en uno mismo teniendo fe en las capacidades innatas que tiene cada individuo apoyadas por la constancia, el esfuerzo sin dejar a un lado lo que nos dice la intuición en cada momento.
100% Recomendable
100% Recomendable
September 24, 2008
Emerson's essays are best read when:
A) You're of the thought that the world can transcend its troubles, be changed for the better, and that you, personally, can be the agent of much of the change.
B) You've become older and jaded and need to be reminded that at one time you thought the world could be changed for the better and that you could be the agent of much of the change.
A) You're of the thought that the world can transcend its troubles, be changed for the better, and that you, personally, can be the agent of much of the change.
B) You've become older and jaded and need to be reminded that at one time you thought the world could be changed for the better and that you could be the agent of much of the change.
November 9, 2010
Nathaniel Hawthorne best captured Emmerson's Transcendentalism in his short story The Celestial Railroad (inspired by Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress). He says, "He [i.e. Giant Transcendentalism] shouted after us, but in so strange a phraseology that we knew not what he meant, nor whether to be encouraged or affrighted."
Emerson’s essays are filled with feel-good rhetoric on being “one with the Oversoul.” He lectures on “originality” while borrowing ideas from Eastern religions and insists upon “religious tolerance” while cramming his own ideology down your throat. The essence of Emerson's essays is merely nebulous claims to self-importance and a direct undermining of Christianity and traditional values. To me, it seems as if Emerson was just trying to create a philosophy he could use to excuse himself from moral absolutes. He claims that if each individual believes himself to be a manifestation of God then perfection and peace can be established on earth. Clearly, his neglect of history blinds him to the logical outcome of his theory: egotism only leads to conflict and chaos.
Emerson’s essays are filled with feel-good rhetoric on being “one with the Oversoul.” He lectures on “originality” while borrowing ideas from Eastern religions and insists upon “religious tolerance” while cramming his own ideology down your throat. The essence of Emerson's essays is merely nebulous claims to self-importance and a direct undermining of Christianity and traditional values. To me, it seems as if Emerson was just trying to create a philosophy he could use to excuse himself from moral absolutes. He claims that if each individual believes himself to be a manifestation of God then perfection and peace can be established on earth. Clearly, his neglect of history blinds him to the logical outcome of his theory: egotism only leads to conflict and chaos.
July 29, 2020
Emerson's Essay on Self-Reliance is the classic argument for non-conformity. Everyone should read it if only for the quotes. Check it out: "Whosoever would be a man must be a non-conformist." Or how about: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds."
It's best to read this essay when you are 19, but no one is too old to enjoy this classic.
It's best to read this essay when you are 19, but no one is too old to enjoy this classic.
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January 19, 2022Subjektif konularda o kadar kendinden emin bir üslubu var ki, Böyle Buyurdu Zerdüşt'ü ne yönden etkilediğini kolayca anlıyor insan.
December 16, 2023
This book altered my mind. It feels like the shelves of my thoughts were re-organised and sorted in a new, unfamiliar way. I'm inspired, curious, lifted! Ah, I love it when books do that.
"In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty."
It is a book that deserves five stars, yet I am giving it four. Emerson's writing style can be laborious, even old-fashioned, with occasional thy's and tee's. At times, it overwhelmed me. At other times, however, I saw beauty in it.
"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."
For some, self-reliance means being financially independent and not needing any help. To Emerson, it's the act of relying on your own experience, opinions, and thoughts as worthy as those of the sages. Worthier, even, for you are alive to fulfil their potential. It's having the courage to live by them, to speak them, to stand by them still even when others look at you with disapproval.
"Be, and not seem."
Can I still find my thoughts between those I borrowed from others? Can I recognise what's mine and what's for the show and the appeal? I have many questions rising in me. Only good books can have such an effect. I highly recommend it.
"In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty."
It is a book that deserves five stars, yet I am giving it four. Emerson's writing style can be laborious, even old-fashioned, with occasional thy's and tee's. At times, it overwhelmed me. At other times, however, I saw beauty in it.
"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."
For some, self-reliance means being financially independent and not needing any help. To Emerson, it's the act of relying on your own experience, opinions, and thoughts as worthy as those of the sages. Worthier, even, for you are alive to fulfil their potential. It's having the courage to live by them, to speak them, to stand by them still even when others look at you with disapproval.
"Be, and not seem."
Can I still find my thoughts between those I borrowed from others? Can I recognise what's mine and what's for the show and the appeal? I have many questions rising in me. Only good books can have such an effect. I highly recommend it.
May 19, 2015
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) est un écrivain américain, chef de file d'un mouvement de pensée appelé "Transcendantalisme", sorte de déisme teinté de philosophie, et qui connut une certaine vogue. Cet ouvrage comprend six essais écrits par lui:
La Nature est un vibrant hommage à la création dont le spectacle doit nous emplir de délice, nous fournit l'ensemble des commodités nécessaires et superflues, nous charme par la variété de ses grâces. Il avance cette thèse paradoxale que le langage est un don de la Nature, comme si la raison était naturelle, ainsi que toutes ses productions: c'est un peu brutaliser la définition du mot Nature! Il s'agit au final de nous faire admirer des objets métaphysique, comme Dieu, l'âme ou l'esprit. Un teste plein de verve et de feu, mais manquant peut-être un peu de liant, et plus propre à soulever l'enthousiasme qu'à emporter l’acquiescement.
La confiance en soi est une exhortation morale au lecteur afin qu'il s'engage dans la voie de la probité, qu'il ne soutienne jamais que le dictament de sa conscience, sans jamais se laisser impressionner par la superbe et les honneurs qui entourent ceux qui soutiennent des opinions que l'on considère erronées. Pour étayer son point de vue, il cite en exemple les grands hommes qui ont toujours passés pour d'insolents novateurs à leurs débuts, avant que leur génie ne soit reconnu. Pour mettre en pratique cette philosophie, il engage à se lier en société avec ceux qui partage nos idées, et ne réserver notre secours qu'à ceux là, quitte à laisser périr dans l'indigence ceux qui ne partagent pas notre point de vue. Cette défense du non-conformisme est libératrice. C'est un point de vue qui ne manque pas de force ni de grandeur, qui est défendu avec éloquence, mais qui pourrait aussi être nuancé, à mon avis, par d'autres maximes de prudence, de souplesse et de longanimité.
Dons et présents est une réflexion sur l'obligation que celui qui reçoit un présent contracte à l'égard de son bienfaiteur. L'auteur s'insurge contre cette dette morale, reprenant une maxime bouddhiste selon laquelle il ne convient pas de flatter les bienfaiteurs, et donc il ne faut jamais remercier! Il s'agit donc d'écarter tout le système d'obligation par échange de présent au profit de relations basées sur la sympathie et le plaisir d'être ensemble.
L'amour est un vibrant plaidoyer en faveur de ce sentiment fort et puissant qui rapproche les humains, et que très philosophiquement il détourne vers l'amour des choses éternelles, etc.
Montaigne, ou le sceptique est un très beau et sincère hommage à l'auteur des Essais, et sa lecture m'a inspiré au final une très bonne opinion de l'auteur. L'indulgence qu'il porte au scepticisme, dont il rétablit le véritable objet au lieu d'en faire toujours la même fatiguante caricature, est le signe d'un esprit ouvert et pondéré.
En conclusion, l'ouvrage se termine par l'influence et l'estime réciproque entre Nietzsche et Emerson, bien qu'ils eurent des opinions presque opposées. Connaissant mal ce philosophe allemand, je n'ai pu en tirer tout le profit possible. Au final, un ouvrage intéressant qui donne un aperçu de d'un courant philosophique américain du XIXe plein d'optimisme, de vigueur et de confiance en soi.
February 17, 2015
Do I always agree with him? Of course not. In particular, his emphasis on 'self-reliance' rather than wisdom handed down and tested through time has always struck me as fool-hardy.
But his thinking is so central to American identity and is so beautifully argued that it is worthwhile studying no matter what your perspective.
But his thinking is so central to American identity and is so beautifully argued that it is worthwhile studying no matter what your perspective.
October 10, 2017
Dear Lord, please no -never again- if it can be helped, and if I must be tortured for some wrong and made to read a terrible book, give me Twilight or a bad fan fiction but not this.
December 14, 2022
Müthiş güzel bir eser. Hep okumak istemiştim neden bu kadar ertelemişim bilmem. Emerson'u edebiyat dünyasında bilmeyen duymayan yoktur mutlaka. Thomas More , Jean-Jacques Rousseau Bacon , Sokrates vb filozofların dünyasını, onların düşümce yapılarının bir bütünlüğünü bu eserde görmek kesinlikle mümkün. Kesinlikle bir başucu kitabım. Arada sırada tekrar tekrar okuyacaklarım arasında.
June 5, 2012
"Self-Reliance" is an essay that captures the independent spirit behind many Americans, but it overlooks the sinfulness of people. Emerson calls on each person to listen to his own intuition rather than society, membership organizations, or religious traditions. He believes that each person can achieve his greatest genius by listening to himself.
In the middle section of the essay, Emerson presents his arguments for his belief. The support seems to largely be based on a faulty understanding of God. He believes that God speaks directly to people's souls, disclosing all truth. If people would tune their intuition, they would touch the divine. He goes on to claim that praying for help is false prayer. He also dismisses the Bible as a source of God's revelation. These ideas ignore the Bible's teachings on the sinfulness of man and holiness of God. They also ignore the Bible's teachings on prayer and warnings about false teachers.
At first this essay appeals because it rings true to the ideas taught in America. However closer evaluation shows the ideas are not true to Scripture. The essay is worth reading for the perspective it offers on American self-reliance, but it should be read with caution and not blindly accepted.
In the middle section of the essay, Emerson presents his arguments for his belief. The support seems to largely be based on a faulty understanding of God. He believes that God speaks directly to people's souls, disclosing all truth. If people would tune their intuition, they would touch the divine. He goes on to claim that praying for help is false prayer. He also dismisses the Bible as a source of God's revelation. These ideas ignore the Bible's teachings on the sinfulness of man and holiness of God. They also ignore the Bible's teachings on prayer and warnings about false teachers.
At first this essay appeals because it rings true to the ideas taught in America. However closer evaluation shows the ideas are not true to Scripture. The essay is worth reading for the perspective it offers on American self-reliance, but it should be read with caution and not blindly accepted.
August 23, 2022
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برگشتم دارم اِمرسون میخونم. راستش هیچوقت از امرسون خیلی خوشم نیومده. شاید چون به دوستی که نیست پیوندم میزنه و شایدم چون زیادی به نظرم انتزاعی و سفیده. با این حال، به نظر میرسه باید متواضعتر باشم، هفتههای گذشته آدمها بارها بهم یادآوری کردن خودت مگه کی بودی؟ بخشی از این «باز به خود برگشتن» و از ایدهها نقد و چالش بیرون کشیدن رو اتفاقا که از خود امرسون یاد گرفتم. به علاوه اینکه امرسون برای من تیغ دولبهست اگه برگردیم به «self-reliance» به نظر میرسه امرسون هموناندازه که طرفدار از این شاخه به اون شاخه پریدن و از ایدههای نو شنیدنه، به همون اندازه هم ضروری میدونه که به چیزی درونت تکیه کنی و ایده رو به چالش بکشی و در نهایت از آن خودت کنی. چیزی درون خودت؟ چه چیزی؟ چه چیز کوفتیای هست که بشه بهش برگشت و مطمئن بود که اونجاست و «باید» اونجا باشه؟ به نظر میرسه وقتی داریم از هستی و جهان و معنا و متافیزیک حرف میزنم امرسون برای من انتزاعیه ولی وقتی قراره برگردیم به کنشهای روزمره چی؟ من هنوز تازهم، هنوز از مواجهه شگفتزده میشم و به ایدهها گیر میکنم، ایدهها منو با خودشون میبرن. اول اقتصاد، بعد تاریخ، بعد جنسیت، نژاد، ادبیات، هنر و هرجا که چیزی برای دیدن باشه. دوستی که حالا کمتر دوستمه خیلی قبلتر بهم توصیه کرده بود امرسون بخونم، میپذیرم که اینطور نمیشه دووم آورد و بیمار شدم انقدر یه چنگال به این کیک زدم و یه گاز از اون شیرینی دهن گذاشتم. یواشکی دورهی «شعر مدرن آمریکا» رو فالگوش وایمیستم و از حسرت و هیجان به خودم میلرزم. فشل شدم و مغزم همهجاست. از این جهت امرسون سیلی درستیست، شات قهوهی سر صبح و لیموی قبل عرقه که هوشیارت میکنه. قُلابت رو برای ایدهای که این همه سال درون خودت نگه داشتی سِفتتر کن ولی چشم و گوشت رو هم نبند. امرسون همون اندازه که تاکید داره لازمه به خودت متکی باشی تشویقت میکنه چیزی خارج دایرهت رو ببینی. بقیه بهت میگن این و اون جالب نیست؟ به جهنم. بیخود نیست که روح آمریکایی امرسون رو میپرسته. شاید همینم اول مانع شده چیزی از امرسون برای خودم بردارم. امرسون معتقده باید جرئت کنی متزلزل و در مسیر باشی، جرئت کنی بیثبات باشی. شگفتانگیزه که امرسون بارها و بارها ترغیبت میکنه تو دام ثبات عقیدتیای که جامعه ازت خواسته نیوفتی. همینم به نظرم self-reliance امرسون رو به فاشیسم بدل نمیکنه. امرسون معتقده باید اجازه بدی که احمق ببیننت، به هرحال جامعه بارها و بارها به تک تک ما تفهیم کرده که ازمون ثبات عقیدتی میخواد. کافیه امروز بگی دموکراتی و فردا بدل شی به آنارشیست، احمق خطابت میکنن و ضعیف قلمداد میشی. فتیش ثبات عقیدتی فراگیر و پررنگه و امرسون تاکید میکنه از همینه که باید فرار کنیم. بخون، ببین، هیجانزده شو ولی به خودت برگرد، در عین حال «خود»ت رو پروژهای بلندمدت ببین که بین تغییر و اتکا در نوسانه.
برگشتم دارم اِمرسون میخونم. راستش هیچوقت از امرسون خیلی خوشم نیومده. شاید چون به دوستی که نیست پیوندم میزنه و شایدم چون زیادی به نظرم انتزاعی و سفیده. با این حال، به نظر میرسه باید متواضعتر باشم، هفتههای گذشته آدمها بارها بهم یادآوری کردن خودت مگه کی بودی؟ بخشی از این «باز به خود برگشتن» و از ایدهها نقد و چالش بیرون کشیدن رو اتفاقا که از خود امرسون یاد گرفتم. به علاوه اینکه امرسون برای من تیغ دولبهست اگه برگردیم به «self-reliance» به نظر میرسه امرسون هموناندازه که طرفدار از این شاخه به اون شاخه پریدن و از ایدههای نو شنیدنه، به همون اندازه هم ضروری میدونه که به چیزی درونت تکیه کنی و ایده رو به چالش بکشی و در نهایت از آن خودت کنی. چیزی درون خودت؟ چه چیزی؟ چه چیز کوفتیای هست که بشه بهش برگشت و مطمئن بود که اونجاست و «باید» اونجا باشه؟ به نظر میرسه وقتی داریم از هستی و جهان و معنا و متافیزیک حرف میزنم امرسون برای من انتزاعیه ولی وقتی قراره برگردیم به کنشهای روزمره چی؟ من هنوز تازهم، هنوز از مواجهه شگفتزده میشم و به ایدهها گیر میکنم، ایدهها منو با خودشون میبرن. اول اقتصاد، بعد تاریخ، بعد جنسیت، نژاد، ادبیات، هنر و هرجا که چیزی برای دیدن باشه. دوستی که حالا کمتر دوستمه خیلی قبلتر بهم توصیه کرده بود امرسون بخونم، میپذیرم که اینطور نمیشه دووم آورد و بیمار شدم انقدر یه چنگال به این کیک زدم و یه گاز از اون شیرینی دهن گذاشتم. یواشکی دورهی «شعر مدرن آمریکا» رو فالگوش وایمیستم و از حسرت و هیجان به خودم میلرزم. فشل شدم و مغزم همهجاست. از این جهت امرسون سیلی درستیست، شات قهوهی سر صبح و لیموی قبل عرقه که هوشیارت میکنه. قُلابت رو برای ایدهای که این همه سال درون خودت نگه داشتی سِفتتر کن ولی چشم و گوشت رو هم نبند. امرسون همون اندازه که تاکید داره لازمه به خودت متکی باشی تشویقت میکنه چیزی خارج دایرهت رو ببینی. بقیه بهت میگن این و اون جالب نیست؟ به جهنم. بیخود نیست که روح آمریکایی امرسون رو میپرسته. شاید همینم اول مانع شده چیزی از امرسون برای خودم بردارم. امرسون معتقده باید جرئت کنی متزلزل و در مسیر باشی، جرئت کنی بیثبات باشی. شگفتانگیزه که امرسون بارها و بارها ترغیبت میکنه تو دام ثبات عقیدتیای که جامعه ازت خواسته نیوفتی. همینم به نظرم self-reliance امرسون رو به فاشیسم بدل نمیکنه. امرسون معتقده باید اجازه بدی که احمق ببیننت، به هرحال جامعه بارها و بارها به تک تک ما تفهیم کرده که ازمون ثبات عقیدتی میخواد. کافیه امروز بگی دموکراتی و فردا بدل شی به آنارشیست، احمق خطابت میکنن و ضعیف قلمداد میشی. فتیش ثبات عقیدتی فراگیر و پررنگه و امرسون تاکید میکنه از همینه که باید فرار کنیم. بخون، ببین، هیجانزده شو ولی به خودت برگرد، در عین حال «خود»ت رو پروژهای بلندمدت ببین که بین تغییر و اتکا در نوسانه.
October 25, 2017
Holy smokes. This is one of those rare things you hear about your whole life but put off because it sounds boring. Something hailed as a classic but something you are skeptical of being relevant for the current age.
But when it finally comes to you, and when you finally get the discipline to read it, it resonates and turns out to be just the thing you needed to read, right at that stage in your life.
This is an essay about self-reliance, not in the Thoreau sense, but being self-oriented even when in the crowd. Very existential at times since it has this "self vs crowd" aspect.
I was not sure I totally agreed with the essay. The part against travelling for amusement rubbed me the wrong way, maybe because I've been travelling a lot this year. But it challenged me, which is good.
But when it finally comes to you, and when you finally get the discipline to read it, it resonates and turns out to be just the thing you needed to read, right at that stage in your life.
This is an essay about self-reliance, not in the Thoreau sense, but being self-oriented even when in the crowd. Very existential at times since it has this "self vs crowd" aspect.
I was not sure I totally agreed with the essay. The part against travelling for amusement rubbed me the wrong way, maybe because I've been travelling a lot this year. But it challenged me, which is good.
July 23, 2022
These essays are unlike anything else. They’re a glimpse into the workings of transcendentalism, into the mind of its most noteworthy poet-advocate. Emerson has a mystical, romantic, esoteric way of writing about all manner of things. I appreciate many of the sentiments he expresses, his celebration of individualism, self-reliance, solitude, mental or “spiritual” fortitude, his embrace of nature, of poetry and philosophy and art and a connection to history, to reality, and to things beneath the mundane, unseen to the eye, his joy for intellectualism and tranquility and the unnamable qualities of life that he has somehow given names and descriptions to, as well as his criticism of conformity and the forces and opinions and motives of society.
I’m confused by his delivery. At times I wonder if he means everything he says, or if he on occasion says things just because he’s in a strong flow, carried away by his own momentum. Given his love for the things mentioned, and his almost metaphysical disposition as a poet, it may be no surprise he finds math cold, science lifeless, facts untrustworthy, empiricism worthless. His writing style reflects this aversion to reason and logic. It is all from the gut and a state of trancelike riffing, rarely a carefully worded, straight forward organization of thoughts. Since he does not bother to persuade, but only to express, I can only read along and differ in opinion here and there, while nodding along and pausing occasionally to reflect on the moments of wonder, on his lyrical might.
What he lacks in persuasion and reason he makes up for with hardy, feeling, romantic, poetic, insightful, and reflective musings. Many good thoughts and ideas abound. He can appear disorganized and lost in a stream of consciousness instead of focused, but maybe it was only me who was lost in his current. We get a lot of strong and beautiful passages full of sage wisdom and sound thinking, sometimes profound observations, on top of passages that do nothing to convince the reader to share his perspective, but still suffused with awe.
Like Nietzsche, he does not reason so much as he intuits. I think I see where Nietzsche gets it from. Emerson also reminds me of Spinoza, in his vague allusions to a god that seems to be synonymous with nature or the universe, but somehow still personified. And as I reached the end of the book and began to detect some hints of ancient Chinese thinking, he brought Mencius into the fold, as fitting a philosopher for him to refer to as any.
He urges his reader to see the glimmers of genius that have shone in others in the past, in great thinkers and writers, like Homer, Dante, Milton, Shakespeare, and to see them also in ourselves. He encourages one to see themselves as an active participant in the world and to see history and experience and friendship as part of the vastness of existence and the self.
Emerson writes a manifesto against conformity to society, to live one’s life even around others as though they were steeped in solitude and able to live according to their own opinions and values. Ones who are seeking amusement or escape in world travel instead of self realization and growth, he supposes, will find neither. His observations on the “improvements” in society being no improvement for man are astute. For every gain on one side it recedes on the other, losing old instincts while acquiring new art, becoming weak while becoming civilized, becoming ignorant of the universe around him while inundated with new tools and luxuries.
This collection overflows with dense substance to go over again and again, to unwrap and consider. It isn’t always compelling, sometimes it seems as though he rambles a bit too long, though not without some grand cavalcade of ideation, but when it’s good it’s very good.
I’m confused by his delivery. At times I wonder if he means everything he says, or if he on occasion says things just because he’s in a strong flow, carried away by his own momentum. Given his love for the things mentioned, and his almost metaphysical disposition as a poet, it may be no surprise he finds math cold, science lifeless, facts untrustworthy, empiricism worthless. His writing style reflects this aversion to reason and logic. It is all from the gut and a state of trancelike riffing, rarely a carefully worded, straight forward organization of thoughts. Since he does not bother to persuade, but only to express, I can only read along and differ in opinion here and there, while nodding along and pausing occasionally to reflect on the moments of wonder, on his lyrical might.
What he lacks in persuasion and reason he makes up for with hardy, feeling, romantic, poetic, insightful, and reflective musings. Many good thoughts and ideas abound. He can appear disorganized and lost in a stream of consciousness instead of focused, but maybe it was only me who was lost in his current. We get a lot of strong and beautiful passages full of sage wisdom and sound thinking, sometimes profound observations, on top of passages that do nothing to convince the reader to share his perspective, but still suffused with awe.
Like Nietzsche, he does not reason so much as he intuits. I think I see where Nietzsche gets it from. Emerson also reminds me of Spinoza, in his vague allusions to a god that seems to be synonymous with nature or the universe, but somehow still personified. And as I reached the end of the book and began to detect some hints of ancient Chinese thinking, he brought Mencius into the fold, as fitting a philosopher for him to refer to as any.
He urges his reader to see the glimmers of genius that have shone in others in the past, in great thinkers and writers, like Homer, Dante, Milton, Shakespeare, and to see them also in ourselves. He encourages one to see themselves as an active participant in the world and to see history and experience and friendship as part of the vastness of existence and the self.
Emerson writes a manifesto against conformity to society, to live one’s life even around others as though they were steeped in solitude and able to live according to their own opinions and values. Ones who are seeking amusement or escape in world travel instead of self realization and growth, he supposes, will find neither. His observations on the “improvements” in society being no improvement for man are astute. For every gain on one side it recedes on the other, losing old instincts while acquiring new art, becoming weak while becoming civilized, becoming ignorant of the universe around him while inundated with new tools and luxuries.
This collection overflows with dense substance to go over again and again, to unwrap and consider. It isn’t always compelling, sometimes it seems as though he rambles a bit too long, though not without some grand cavalcade of ideation, but when it’s good it’s very good.
February 13, 2010
Whoso would be a man, must be a non-conformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.
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 is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
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. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Out upon your guarded lips! Sew them up with pockthread, do. Else if you would be a man speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. Ah, then, exclaim the aged ladies, you shall be sure to be misunderstood! Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? 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.
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 is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
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. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Out upon your guarded lips! Sew them up with pockthread, do. Else if you would be a man speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. Ah, then, exclaim the aged ladies, you shall be sure to be misunderstood! Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? 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.
April 3, 2018
as we are studying Emily Dickinson in our American literature class, our teacher said that it was important to include Emerson in our analysis of her poems! I see the different connections between the two authors (as Dickinson admired Emerson). moreover his writing style is simple yet every word has an important role in his construction of sentences, I see Dickinson’s fascination for him
October 31, 2010
I reread Self-Reliance shortly after quitting Facebook, and then re-read it again twice more, in disbelief that apparently the issues I have with FB are not so removed from Emerson's times.... this is classic and timeless.
April 8, 2020
A difficult book to review. Six of Emerson’s best essays along with his controversial Divinity School Address. History, Self-reliance, Friendship, The Over-Soul, The Poet and Experience are the topics of the essays written around 1841.
The recurrent theme throughout the essays is think for your self. The need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instinct. The idea of believing in one's self and one's worth is another key theme.
It is the source of one of Emerson's most famous quotations: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." He also states you should do what you think right and not follow the herd instinct. He advocates reflection through solitude and is also critical of institutional religion.
Emerson argues to question everything and is very skeptical of charities or communal based support. His argument is that self reliance on one self does not cover less fortunate people, disabled, blind or not having been born in privileged position. In some ways he is a cruel and heartless commentator and on the the other side he talks sense and there are some great quotes. My favorite was from Napoleon ‘What is history but a fable agreed upon’.
Overall a thought provoking book of its time and with relevance today. Trust thyself would be his mantra and to finish with a quote from him. ‘’To believe in your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, - that is genius." This I think encapsulates what is main message is in that self-reliance means to on one's own thoughts and ideas not others.
One person I will be reading more of is Emanuel Swedenborg who sounds fascinating.
The recurrent theme throughout the essays is think for your self. The need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instinct. The idea of believing in one's self and one's worth is another key theme.
It is the source of one of Emerson's most famous quotations: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." He also states you should do what you think right and not follow the herd instinct. He advocates reflection through solitude and is also critical of institutional religion.
Emerson argues to question everything and is very skeptical of charities or communal based support. His argument is that self reliance on one self does not cover less fortunate people, disabled, blind or not having been born in privileged position. In some ways he is a cruel and heartless commentator and on the the other side he talks sense and there are some great quotes. My favorite was from Napoleon ‘What is history but a fable agreed upon’.
Overall a thought provoking book of its time and with relevance today. Trust thyself would be his mantra and to finish with a quote from him. ‘’To believe in your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, - that is genius." This I think encapsulates what is main message is in that self-reliance means to on one's own thoughts and ideas not others.
One person I will be reading more of is Emanuel Swedenborg who sounds fascinating.
November 14, 2015
I didn't read this exact edition. Mine had 12 essays in it, including Self-Reliance. I'm not really sure why that particular essay is so popular. I guess people take away the message of: believe in yourself and don't worry about what the critics in your life say. That's great, but Emerson seems more arrogant and extreme than that. For example: "To believe your own thought, to believe that what it true for you in your private heart is true for all men - that is genius." No, it isn't. That's one of the things they break you of during freshman year when you realize you're not that wise and the world is a pretty diverse place. As for extreme, I think he's dangerously individualistic. He argues that we belong to no one and that each person is responsible for charting their own course through life. Sounds fine at first. But then someone asks him to give to the poor. "Are they my poor? I tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong." He's quick to say he'll help a certain class of people, but not just anybody. Nice.
July 26, 2022
These essays appeal to me now more than they did in school. In high school, I thought Ralph Waldo Emerson was old-fashioned and his writing boring. I think it takes a more mature mind with life experiences to appreciate many of Emerson's muses. It was only after I traveled in Europe that I understood what he meant by American culture.
SPOILERS: My favorite quotes from this book of essays are:
"It is for want of self-culture that the superstition of Traveling, whose idols are Italy, England, Egypt, retains its fascination for all educated Americans.
"The thief steals from himself. The swindler swindles himself. For the real price of labor is knowledge and virtue, whereof wealth and credit are signs... like paper money, may be counterfeited or stolen, but that which they represent, namely, knowledge and virtue, cannot be counterfeited or stolen... The law of nature is, Do the thing, and you shall have the power: but they who do not the thing have not the power."
"But man postpones, or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with a 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."
"It is for want of self-culture that the superstition of Traveling, whose idols are Italy, England, Egypt, retains its fascination for all educated Americans."
SPOILERS: My favorite quotes from this book of essays are:
"It is for want of self-culture that the superstition of Traveling, whose idols are Italy, England, Egypt, retains its fascination for all educated Americans.
"The thief steals from himself. The swindler swindles himself. For the real price of labor is knowledge and virtue, whereof wealth and credit are signs... like paper money, may be counterfeited or stolen, but that which they represent, namely, knowledge and virtue, cannot be counterfeited or stolen... The law of nature is, Do the thing, and you shall have the power: but they who do not the thing have not the power."
"But man postpones, or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with a 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."
"It is for want of self-culture that the superstition of Traveling, whose idols are Italy, England, Egypt, retains its fascination for all educated Americans."
July 17, 2022
Small in volume but full of great ideas. It was a difficult read for me though as he is jumping topic to topic with hasty generalizations and stretching metaphors. Gotta reread later.
“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. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. 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. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? 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.”
“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. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. 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. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? 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.”
December 26, 2011
Emerson's transcendental philosophy is interesting in how it sidesteps a lot of the problems associated with similar views. Though very similar in its emphasis on the power of the imagination to Romanticism, and though Emerson makes some really outrageous claims, he has a manner of writing and argumentation that is so assured and clear that sometimes it doesn't matter that he's wrong, or at least limited, because he's inspiring in his wrongness, and wrong only in a rigorous philosophical sense. "The Poet" is a great example, a call to action of sorts that is amazingly lacking in pretension despite its ambition and grandiose self-assertion. Emerson, in several of these pieces, taps directly into the vein that would produce many of America's greatest and least pretentious artists.
August 25, 2018
With apologies to people who like Emerson, during this book I did so much face-palming and eye-rolling that my head hurts. I'm not really sure I have ever had such a negative reaction to an author or essayist before.
I could probably tolerate the long-windedness, but his philosophies are not just naive, they are wrong. I would re-title Self Reliance as Hubris. What bothers me is that looking back, I have been in discussions where people have used his ideas as an excuse to close their minds and satisfy themselves with their own foolishness.
I could go on, but really, what's the point?
I could probably tolerate the long-windedness, but his philosophies are not just naive, they are wrong. I would re-title Self Reliance as Hubris. What bothers me is that looking back, I have been in discussions where people have used his ideas as an excuse to close their minds and satisfy themselves with their own foolishness.
I could go on, but really, what's the point?
August 21, 2008
So dense yet lucid and poetic and rigorous....you can't get your arms around him, no matter how hard you try.
I've been coming back to this stuff for years in short but deeply felt dives into Emerson's humming catacombs.
I do believe what Bloom says when he calls Ralphie-boy "the mind of America"....it's all there
I've been coming back to this stuff for years in short but deeply felt dives into Emerson's humming catacombs.
I do believe what Bloom says when he calls Ralphie-boy "the mind of America"....it's all there
May 18, 2009
The essay "Self-Reliance" has been immensely important to me. If ever you are going through tough times, or feel that you are not being treated as well as you deserve, or fear that you are too dependent on another person for your happiness, or are just wondering about what it really means to have personal identity, read this essay. It's incredible.
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