Both authors believed in the idea of individuals engaging in their emotional state, they also believe people should listen to their own voice, and listen clearly in their hearts and minds as they engage in self definition.
In Self Reliance the author Emerson quotes that “imitation is suicide”, and Thoreau believes in staying true to one’s own conviction as one engages in self definition. The need to define oneself through action and rebellion, listening to one’s heart and mind as opposed to blindly following the state, is important to Thoreau. Thoreau and Emerson are both transcendentalists, they believe that people should adhere to their own conscience and not worry too much about what society thought they should do.
In Self Reliance the author Emerson quotes that “imitation is suicide”, and Thoreau believes in staying true to one’s own conviction as one engages in self definition. The need to define oneself through action and rebellion, listening to one’s heart and mind as opposed to blindly following the state, is important to Thoreau. Thoreau and Emerson are both transcendentalists, they believe that people should adhere to their own conscience and not worry too much about what society thought they should do.