Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were both influential people. Thoreau was inspired by Emerson's ideas. They encouraged the people around them to think for themselves, simplify their lives, and enjoy nature. These are the major similarities in their philosophies on life. Thoreau and Emerson both believed in self-reliance. Thoreau thought that people should live their life exactly how they want. He did not want people to live the life that their parents wanted them to. Thoreau said, "pursue his own way." He saw that many people just take the easy route and conform to the world. He wanted people to break tradition and do what they loved. Emerson believed that you should trust yourself. He said, "speak what you think now… and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks… though it contradicts everything you said." He was not afraid to contradict himself, because that meant he had learned from his experiences. He wanted people to say what they thought, whether others agreed with them or not. Thoreau and Emerson's belief in self-reliance also trickled into a life of simplicity. …show more content…
Thoreau said, "our life is frittered away by detail." He thought that a person should be able to count their affairs on his ten fingers. Thoreau believed that you only need the "essential facts of life." He demonstrated this belief by moving to Walden Pond where he lived Spartan-like. Emerson believed that we should keep our "spirit of infancy." He thought that we should look at the world with child-like wonder. He supposed that the simplicity of our childhood would help us find happiness. Emerson also believed that in order for man to truly see and appreciate nature, he had to look through the eye and heart of a