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Universal Conformity In The Works Of Ralph Waldo Emerson

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intend to act upon his or her own thoughts and ideas, is out of step with its purpose. Such a person, in Emerson's view, cannot be productive, fulfilled, and therefore happy, as they are not living for anything real. These people are only temporarily pacified by ideals that have already been established, innovations that have already been discovered, and abilities that have already been exhausted. On the other hand, a person who is self-reliant can be assured that he or she is carrying out a divine purpose of life, as no one before them could have had the exact same ideas, strengths, or mental environment to work with. Those who flout the rules and conventions of society and religion do, however, suffer disapproval as a result. But, Emerson points out, those men who were earlier condemned are now considered some of the greatest thinkers …show more content…
The first innate reaction of man is to reject that which is different and may pose dangers to the familiar way of life. This “terror that scares us from self-trust” (Self-Reliance 537) is the beginning of the emergence of universal conformity which, in turn, eclipses innovation and personal growth. However, the more people open themselves to their personal judgment and intuition, the more trust they will have for each other as a mutual respect for ideas will develop. People will be able to relate to each other through their processes of thought, ensuring acknowledgment amongst all for the effort and uniqueness society will experience through individual contributions. Self-reliance is not a merely a matter of averting tradition but, just as importantly, a matter of believing and doing what one is uniquely suited to believe and do. Emerson expects the self-reliant to substitute originality for imitation in every sphere of

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