Such desires, according to Emerson, must be found intrinsically, or else a person risks living to another’s wishes. As he begins the passage, Emerson first praises the nonconformists for not needing the guidance to understand their own worth. He writes to the others, “Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world” (Emerson n.pag.). Through this tidbit of advice, Emerson sets the meaning of life as dependent on the individual asking, not a uniform definition. For Emerson, the search for a meaningful existence begins with humans accepting themselves for whom they are. While unreasonable to believe that they would gain the unwavering support, or “suffrage of the world,” that public opinion would matter far less if they