Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay

For man to have faith in himself is the only thing keeping him from achieving peace. This can be seen in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance”. Throughout the essay Emerson argues for everyone to be authentic to themselves and to not conform to society. Emerson also believes that man should be nonconformists and he believes they should be true to themselves. Although Emerson portrays many different themes throughout his essay, his overall message is for man to be themselves. First, Emerson believes that the most important thing to a person is his or her own mind. Emerson. For example, “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind” (Emerson 21). This quote shows how strongly Emerson stresses the idea of staying true to oneself and believing in one’s own mind. Emerson is saying that the most sacred thing to man is his or her own ideas and morals. Emerson believes that one should …show more content…
One example of this idea is, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself” (Emerson 38).
This excerpt shows the belief of Emerson that the only way to be happy in life is by believing in oneself. Emerson believes that one should not conform to society because it does not show their true self and then they will never be happy. The only way to truly be happy is for one to believe in himself, to believe in his own mind, to speak his own thoughts, and for one to commit to his own actions. Once one is completely himself he will find an inner peace. In conclusion, Emerson has many different ideas and beliefs but his main belief is for all of mankind to show their true identities and for man to be true to themselves. Emerson believes that man must have faith in his or her own mind. He also believes that man must never try to copy others and to be someone that he is not. Finally, Emerson thinks that if man is able to do all of that and be his true self then he will finally be