I was just reading through "Self-Reliance" for about the hundredth time and paused on this sequence:
It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
If we can forgive the sexist language (I'm sure you noticed how Emerson associates brave nonconformity with masculinity and mindless conformity with femininity), perhaps we can take a minute to appreciate this three part statement. If nothing else it is a perfect lesson in how to use the semicolon, the most under appreciated of punctuation marks.
No, seriously, I like what he says here, because it puts into words something I've felt before. Living how the world expects you to live is relatively easy. If you know how to pick up basic social cues, it is easy enough act in ways that bring us into the protected fold of society. It is also easy, when isolated, to make thoughtful decisions about the kind of person you want to be. You can close your bedroom door and make your own personal mission statement and accompanying lists of values, virtues, and resolves (like Ben Franklin). But as soon as you take that list -- and those very individualistic notions -- out into the world, you start to feel the brute power of social expectation. Truly courageous people stand up to this tidal wave of expectation, dig their feet in mud, and insist upon their own visions of themselves. To use the language of the guy from this morning's assembly, courageous people are the ones who stand up. I'm not talking about rebellion per se, or even Rosa Parks type determination -- just the simple courage to be exactly the person you are or want to be. If you decide that most gossip is mean-spirited and hurtful, then have the courage to say something your caddy friends -- or even walk away. Sometimes, in order to be true to yourself, you have to say things that create the kind of awkwardness in conversations that everyone seems to want to avoid at all costs. Later in the piece, Emerson suggests that we should speak our words as "hard as cannonballs," the exact opposite advice given to us by our good friend Ben Franklin. Cannonballs, of course, can sink ships, but in the end to have enough moral nerve to stand by an unpopular viewpoint can bring the kind of "perfect sweetness" that he mentions. Sweet!
Oh ... and also: if you want to look ahead to the next couple of weeks, I put the new assignment sheet and the next three essay prompts on the website. On a scale of 1-10 with one being fast asleep and ten being ecstatic, how excited are you right now?
ReplyDeleteSometimes it’s hard to stand out. Peer pressure is a powerful thing, and even at a welcoming high school like Parker, it can sometimes be hard to be the salmon, swimming fiercely against the deluge of others’ opinions. As Mr. Harrington said, it’s pretty easy to go about your life doing what the world wants you to do. But when you step back and reflect idiomatically for a moment upon Emerson’s ideas, perhaps it is worth it to stick out like a sore thumb or be the black sheep, because according to Emerson, “most men have bound their eyes with one or another handkerchief.” Excuse the additional idiom, but isn’t this like the blind leading the blind?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote from the text is “to be great is to be misunderstood.” Since Emerson listed a few people who I thought were excellent examples of this quote (Galileo/Copernicus), I’ve found a few other examples to show that Emerson is on track with this one. Great people are not necessarily accepted by their peers even though they may be exceptionally brilliant. J.R. Oppenheimer was the head of the Manhattan Project during WWII, but wanted to ensure that the use of nuclear weaponry was controlled and that the United States didn’t descend into a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. Politicians thought he was crazy and were angered by his outspoken opinions, so his security clearance was revoked and he was blacklisted during the Red Scare for being close to prominent Communists. Even Charles Darwin, who remained a Christian until his death, was criticized during his lifetime because his peers found it difficult to reconcile biblical truth and biological fact. Similarly, Thomas Jefferson seems to be a bit of a misunderstood guy. It seems to me that TJ (or Aunt Juana, as Mr. Taylor calls him) was living the same things as Emerson is thinking in Self-Reliance; Thomas Jefferson appears to be a living contradiction of himself, but maybe his thoughts and actions would make coherent sense if we knew what it was like to really be Thomas Jefferson. (For those non-sailors, “the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks” is a perfect explanation of Emerson’s viewpoint – sailboats cannot go directly into the wind, but by tacking back and forth one can eventually produce a course whose best fit line would indeed be straight upwind.) This might explain the seeming contradiction between Jefferson’s statement in the Declaration of Independence (“all men are created equal”) and the actual reality of his everyday life (the dude had slaves). So obviously, Jefferson is misunderstood. But he’s one of our Founding Fathers and is considered to be one of the greatest thinkers of the American Revolution. It seems that Jefferson was just as strange as the rare $2 bill that bears his countenance today… he really DOES “fit the bill.” ☺ So next time someone does something a bit crazy, think about it before calling them a kook – because apparently, there’s a lot to be said for that!
There's a lot to think about there, Emily. A tour through American history through the lens of Emerson's ideals. No doubt, today's kook is tomorrow's revolutionary thinker.
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ReplyDeleteI really liked Emily’s response “ to be great is to be misunderstood”. The truth behind the quote is so evident in everyday life. It made me think of great thinkers like Benjamin Franklin, Pythagoras, and Aristotle. However my quote focused more on society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self Reliance” was mentioned near the end of the essay. Throughout the reading, the extravagant vocabulary words were hard to understand, so I looked up numerous words to be able to comprehend Emerson’s opinions of society. The quote I chose is, “ Society never advances. It recedes as fast on the side as it gains on the other. It undergoes continual changes; it is barbarous, it is civilized, it is Christianized, it is rich, it is scientific; but this change is not amelioration.” This quote could be particularly controversial because many people have different opinions on the advancement of society.
However, I agreed with his quote. Emerson is trying to say that society does not advance and that people never change, time moves on but the world is still caught up in the same ideas and conflicts. In my opinion, history repeats itself. The conflict over religion, government, heath, property, and rights circulate around the world. Wars are repeated for economic reasons, religious controversies, and ideologies through Europe, the Americas, and Asia . The conflicts of the Crusades, World War One, World War Two, and the principles behind imperialism have all continued through modern society. Humans are humans, no one is perfect, so this repeat of non-advancement will never end.
I like what both of you are saying, especially Emily, mentioning TJ, major brownie points. The truth is it is hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys? But did anyone else feel like Emerson is making a case for non-conformity just for the sake of non-conformity? I'm all for speaking your mind and being fearless, but come on "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its member", that's a little harsh. I would go as far as saying he even sounds like a child that is purposefully disobeying his parents just to upset them. Personally, If being a non-conformist means I have to give up my huge crush on Gerard Butler or my mild addiction to Family Guy, than I'm okay with conformity!
ReplyDeleteFor This reason I have decided that my favorite quote in self-relaince (drumroll please) is:"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself"
Ain't that the truth! No one knows what will bring peace to your life or what will make you happy like you do. Life is too short to do anything but make yourself happy. I know that my grandmother, the same one that e-mails me, has a list of 100 important thoughts taped to her refrigerator and one of them says: "No one is in charge of your happiness but yourself". I think that it is the most important message in Self-Reliance because it is a universal idea; everyone wants to be happy. Understandably, different ideas make different people happy but I think Emerson makes the mistake of devaluing one persons ideas over another. Yes, most revolutionary thinkers are ridiculed before they are excepted. For example Galileo was put into solitary confinement for supporting the idea of heliocentricity. As shameful as it is to alienate someone because their ideas are TOO different,isn't it equally as shameful to alienate someone because their ideas aren't different enough!
Like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young said the bottom line is: "let your freak flag fly", do what makes you happy, whether it is watching an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians or reading War and Peace, just be you!
i just finished my comment and it got deleted. now i'm writing another one. my life sucks.
ReplyDeleteWow o wow :)! I must say Ralph Waldo Emerson most definitely has a bigger vocabulary then I do. Dictionary.com has to be my savior. Apart from spending my time raiding the dictionary for words that I didn’t know, I found Emerson's work to be rather compelling. From the many quotes I could have chosen from in "Self-Reliance", I selected "It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps the perfect sweetness of independence of solitude".
ReplyDeleteLike Mr.H , I chose this quote because I found it expresses a choice that all of us have had to make at least once in our lives. As Emerson states, it is extremely easy to go day by day following the social tidal wave. As the wave flows through our lives, we may encounter a comment or question that we personally disagree with. We are then presented with two options, staying afloat on our inner tube by following the wave, or taking a risk by disagreeing and maybe falling into the cold ocean water. I must say I have gone down both paths, following the wave, and arguing away. Like I have, many would continue along happily on their flotation device ignoring the comment. By doing so they are also choosing to live in another's shadow. You may be thinking, "Why would I do that, FIGHT!", but weigh the pros for a second. By simply ignoring the comment, you are safe from the possible brutal push of the outside social world. It is easy to conform to everyone else's view points that sometimes one can forget what they think themselves. I am guilty of that as well. As Emerson says, when solitary one can come up with many values they wish to follow, but when put to the test in the real world the person starts to feel the current pushing against them. When the current starts to whither away the sand, it is a person that sticks with their view points and risks their social comfort that shows courage. It is that one person that chooses to devote themselves and gives all their heart that shines through the crowd of clones suffocating the world. Those few "rebels" that choose to voice their opinion and fight for what they believe in are the ones that have the option of becoming great. When a person chooses to stick firm to their opinion they become an individual. That person chooses to take the hard route through life so that they can be themselves instead of fitting into the mold millions of others have before. Do you believe great thinkers of the past and present time such as Socrates, Copernicus, and Galileo became great by following the social wave? NO, If they had they wouldn’t be great! Create your own wave and follow your own beliefs, because to become great one must show courage and heart by fighting in what they believe in! Although many say "Great minds think alike", that is not true, great minds think differently and fight the common person, just ask Emerson.
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ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the most important statement made by Emerson in Self-Reliance is, "But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future." In this statement, Emerson is trying to say that one should live and enjoy the present, not preoccupy oneself with the past or the future.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we, as Francis Parker students are perfect examples of the type of people Emerson is describing. Every single one of us, as Francis Parker students, wants to get into a good college. The reason we want to get into a good college is to eventually have a well paying job. The reason we want a well paying job is to get rich and retire wealthy. That is where this system gets confusing. Why would we wasted the prime of our lives studying and working for the ultimate objective of living well when we are old and feeble? I am not saying that one should quit school, not go to college, and just enjoy life. I am saying that one should not preoccupy oneself solely with the future without any thought to life in the moment. When one finds oneself so worried and stressed about the future that one cannot enjoy life in the present, then there is a problem. At that point, one needs to take a step back and look at the big picture. Time is a person's most valuable currency, and it is a waste to spend it completely on the future.
One should also not worry oneself with mistakes from the past. It is important to learn from one's mistakes, but there is a line between learning from mistakes and dwelling on mistakes. One cannot always be repenting for past mistakes. It is important to learn and move on with life.
No one wants to look back on their life and regret anything. For that reason, I believe that, though it is important to learn from the past and plan for the future, it is also very important to save some time for the present.
Hi! I totally agree with what Matt said about that quote. Time is most definitely a person's most valuable currency, although I do think that living in the now and thinking about the future are equally important. To be able to live in the present, you need to have a plan of what kind of future you want. One can't just chill their way through life, they need something to work towards. Goals for the future are what drive people to succeed in the present.
ReplyDeleteSo the quote I picked is "What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness." So I chose this quote, because it shows how he knows his duty and doesn't do it based on other people's opinions or thoughts. He doesn't want his actions to be jaded by the opinions of others, he wants to make his own decisions and maybe even mistakes. He goes on to recognize how difficult this task is in both real life and "intellectual" life. (he uses an SAT word... arduous:))
Ok. SO. This quote definitely applies to the real world. If more people weren't effected by other people, meaning conforming to what everyone else wants, there would be so much more advancement. Emerson is saying not to listen to those judgmental people, but as a high school student, it is a bit more difficult. Judgment is everywhere, but if one focuses on what they need to do, not the way they are seen, their lives would be easier no matter how hard it is.
There would be so much less judgment, if everyone did their own thing, because they would be to busy with their own task to spend time judging other people. It is hard to not let other people get you down, but anyone who is great, can get past the eyes of the rest of the world and be true to himself (or herself). I feel the take away message from this quote is to not let the scornful eye impede a person's greatness. Don't let other people discourage you, and do the things you do for yourself and no one else.
Emerson makes some really good points on individuality in his writing. I really like Emily's description of the fish in her blog and I completely agree with Matt's thoughts on saving time for the present.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there were some points that after reading I was concerned and confused about. It could have possibly been my assumptions to what his exact meaning was, but I felt some disagreement with his words.
"I much prefer that it [life] should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady."
Is he saying that we should lower our goals and expectations? Is Emerson stating that a common life with shards of happiness is better than absolute happiness? He is stating that that is just his preference, but I feel deeply against what he is saying. I have never once heard someone tell me to set my aim a little lower for my goals, and if they did, I would be taken aback and definitely NOT do it. Even today, when reading my horoscope in the newspaper (which yes, I do every day) it told me; "You will attain your dream of doing the extraordinary." And unlike Emerson, I completely and fully wouldn't live it any other way.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie when she says she gets the feeling that Emerson has a bit of teenage angst in him. Self Reliance is a great piece but it has an underlying tone of "Don't conform to the system just because it's the system." There is a difference of preaching independence and confidence to preaching rebellion.
ReplyDeleteI chose the quote "To believe in your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men,-that is genius." This is saying that if a person puts into action what they believe in their own heart, they have found the meaning of their life. The reader has to be careful here though because Emerson also says that what is right in one man's heart is not what is right in anothers. This can get tricky because here Emerson is telling the reader that they should not live how society wants, not how a friend or family member wants, but how your own heart wants. It is difficult to know what one wants sometimes, which is why conforming to society is so enticing at times.
I believe that one of the most important rights in life is free will. We have studied this right in class with Olaudah Equiano and the slave trade, Rip Van Winkle and his freedom within his marriage, and Tom and his soul in The Devil and Tom Walker. In each story the characters were restricted with their freedom in their own way, and they were unhappy because of it. This is Emerson's point. To first know what you want for yourself in life, and then have to ability to achieve it is the ultimate gift. It is genius.
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ReplyDeleteI think maybe we shouldn't take Emerson's message literally, but instead with not one, but many grains of salt. One grain for his idea that maybe my contributions to society would improve if I were to be raised by the silence of some deserted island. Another perhaps for his complete and unwavering hope for "the last of nonconformity and consistency." Maybe another for his insistence that we set goals to be misunderstood. I hesitate to believe that Emerson is advocating for a life plan in which we sit on our homes and revel in our "genius," never wasting time with travel, family, or school.
ReplyDeleteHidden in all of Emerson's romantic ramblings, I believe that there exists a rational base. His insistence is for the optimization of happiness, and therefore for the contribution by each of what he is best at.
He says, "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string." He challenges us above else to find our true self. By saying to stay true to ourselves and stay true to the present and all those happy-sounding words, I don't think he is saying that I shouldn't go to college, or do my homework. If I can see now that I will be happy in the future if I go to college, and happy tomorrow if I do my homework, then by golly I think that I should just go for it. In this way, I will stay true to myself. And the future is just part of the present that isn't really here yet, right? That doesn't mean that it is not an extension of the present. Same with the past.
Coldplay fans, it's kinda like the song 42: Those who are dead are not dead, They're just living in my head. Or for you intellectuals, Kurt Vonnegut: So it goes. Weird ideas...
But so where can we draw the line between conformity and non-conformity, in order to get to our own "original" happiness? What if in order to write the great (and arguably very "original") American novel "The Great Gatsby," the author conformed by attending prep schools as a youth, and studying writing at Princeton University? He did. But in the end, he was happy and he contributed. As Franny says in Salinger's Franny and Zooey, "And the worst part is, if you go bohemian or something crazy like that, you're conforming just as much only in a different way."
Thinking about Matt's quote, I do hope you all go to college. I also hope that I stay true to myself when I quote so disgustingly much from other people and works. Maybe they are actually a part of my true self? Regardless, I'm happy, and that's what counts.
Right?
Can I just say how much I love Katie's ability to relate her blogs to the best outside topics? Last week it was the Notorious B.I.G., and this week it is the Kardashians, Gerard Butler and Family Guy. Katie never fails to make me smile in all of her blog entries!
ReplyDeleteThe quote that I chose was "A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done other wise, shall give him no peace."
I chose this quote in particular, not necessarily because I feel that it is the most important quote within the work, but because it is something that I have recently discovered within my own life. Usually, I tend to be extremely hard on myself regarding all aspects of my life, whether it be school, sports or anything else I am involved in. But recently, I have noticed a change within myself whenever I don't fully succeed at something. Usually, I would be extremely upset if I failed to achieve perfection. Despite how hard I would work, I would always disappointed. This school year in particular, I've noticed that when I fail to meet my high expectations, I tend to not get upset, but instead recognize the hard work that I put in. Looking back on it, I am curious whether my recent lessened critical view of my efforts is really about me realizing the amount of work I put in, or if it is more of a case of "The Speckled Axe" syndrome from Ben Franklin's "The Autobiography". Maybe it is the fact that I am working harder than usual that I am less critical of myself, or maybe it truly is that I am just becoming happy with the effort that I put into my work as opposed to the result. Whatever the reason may be for this change, I have noticed that I seem to be generally happier because of it.
Emily, i really loved you salmon analogy, partially because i really like salmon, but also because it totally makes sense. I mean, you want to swim a little against the current so that people notice you, and whoever's reading you college essay will remember you, yet, there is a fine line between "different" and "different enough."
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote is "Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child." It reminds me a lot of "le petit prince", which i'm reading in French. One of the main themes of the book is that there is a difference between how a child understands and considers important, and then how an adult understands. Children have imagination, so they see things in a light unclouded by the social norm, which i think is what Emerson is suggesting.
Adults, on the other hand, like to talk about socially acceptable things, and prefer the information to be in numbers. For example, an adult want to hear that your teacher is 6ft tall,not that he knows how to listen as well as speak.
In this sense, Emerson is suggesting that the best way to understand nature, and to begin to question the world once again, is to think like a child. He's saying that you need to become the essence of what a child is: a questioner of the world, one who listens and comprehends what others say, but also makes a point to figure these thing out for themselves, and in the process, learns something no one else knows.
When I was reading Emerson's "Self-Reliance", I fell upon a quote that really attracted me. Then I went onto this blog and discovered it was the one Mr. Harrington and Valerie wrote about. Not cool. I like this quote by Emerson because it describes how one should stand out from others and be the person they are instead of acting outside of their character. It shows independence and it gave me the urge to be the person I am and not pretend to be someone else.
ReplyDeleteI reviewed the piece again to choose another quote and decided that my OTHER favorite sequence is, "Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession." This is saying to be oneself and not pretend to be someone they are not. It is also saying that one should use their own gift that is unique to them. By trying to adopt someone else's gift, one is left with a temporary satisfaction that does not last a lifetime or become a part of that person. One's own gift can be used throughout a lifetime that shows how they are special and non-conforming.
I chose this quote because it reflects an important concept to remember and never forget. Individualism is the main theme throughout Emerson's piece, which is why I think I like it so much. I have always strived to be the person inside of me and not some person outside of me. I have learned this since I was a little kid and that why it is so special to me. Using one's own talents will direct them on the path that is right for them in life rather than someone else's. This individualism and self reliance reminds me of a quote by Jim Rohn who you might not know of. I have always kept it in my mind. It says, "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."
I agree with Katie and Erica that Emerson definitely has an air of the rebellious teenager. It's really okay to think that Gerard Butler is appealing Katie :)
ReplyDeleteFor me, the quote that stood out was: " The corruption of man is followed by the corruption of language. When simplicity of character and the sovereignty of ideas is broken up by the prevalence of secondary desire of riches, the desire of pleasure, the desire of power, the desire of praise- and duplicity and falsehood take place of simplicity and truth, the power over nature as an interpreter of the will, is a degree lost; new imagery ceases to be created, and old words are perverted to stand for things which are not"
How true is that today? How many times do we hear people use the word "gay" to describe something insipid that they see? When did it become cool to call the person next to you retarded? As a society, we take these words and make them negative when really they are not. As Emerson says, as our societies become more obsessed with the material things, we lose the sincerity of life. We all know that immigrants aren't bad. And obviously feminist are worthy or else all the women in the world would still be in the kitchen making sandwiches all day. It goes back to what Mr. H and Emily were saying about doing what society says to do. Instead of calling your friend the "n" word, call them buddy. Nobody thinks you are more powerful for calling something gay. Just because somebody else is doing it doesn't mean that you have to. Don't get me wrong, I know it's hard to go against the current, but that's what this rebellious teen is saying we should do.
Let me start by saying there could not have been a better time for me to read this essay. Earlier this afternoon I lugged my heavy backpack across Terminal C, more then ready to board my flight back home from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I apologize in advanced for the vast generalization I am about to purport, but Tulsa is the epitome of Emerson’s statement about conformity. I have been traveling to visit my family in Tulsa for many years now, and let me tell you; almost nothing has changed since I can remember. It almost reminds me of a Flintstone’s episode, strip mall after strip mall and every fast food joint you can imagine. No matter how quick Fred’s feet move, we seem to be passing the same places over and over and in my mind, the same holds true for the intellectual thoughts, creative thinking, social norms, etc of the local. And further, it is almost seems like an oxymoron to be reading Emerson on a completely full Southwest airlines flight from Oklahoma – but I persevered through the dense text.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me for my tangent, and let me get back to the concrete goal of this blog. As I conquered the intricate and somewhat unfamiliar vocabulary of Emerson’s Self Reliance, many lines and passages stood out to me, but there was one in particular that loomed over me, even as I was waiting for my luggage.
“There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself, for better, for worse, as his portion… no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.”
I believe that this quote is relevant, especially in the competitive bubble we live in at Francis Parker School. Emerson suggests that envying the homecoming queen, valedictorian, or star of the football team is fruitless, because each person is born with an individual skill set and being jealous of someone else’s achievement’s is merely a waste of your own originality, ideas and “genius,” as he puts it. The same goes for imitation. To try to emulate another human being is to sacrifice your own uniqueness. Using his metaphor about corn, even if you fertilize it and work hard, you can only grow what is available on your plot of land.
This is precisely what Mr. H is saying because you must be true to yourself. Conforming to the expectations of society will only take the shine off your own personal penny.
Holy smokes, there's too much here to respond to thoughtfully. Are we all just salmon swimming against the current? I just hope society isn't that big grizzly waiting at the waterfall.
ReplyDeleteI love all the analogies. Creating our own waves, using a flotation device (nice, Val). I love, too, how all of you have personalized this in your own ways, from Liza's trip to Tulsa to Danielle's recent self-realization to Matt's ruminations on living in the moment.
Oh, and Marly: I don't think Emerson is saying "dream low." I think he's making a case for simplicity over complexity, for substance over fluff, natural over artificial. Thoreau will expand on this.
I like how Kristen cherry picks Emerson's theories to an extent. Many of the things he says can be applied to a variety of situations. As Danielle pointed out, the speckled axe theory may apply.
More later....
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ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Liza's interpretation and explanation of that quote saying that originality is key. It leads in perfectly to the quote I found most interesting.
ReplyDelete"Of the ineffable essence which we call Spirit, he that thinks most, will say least."
I am not the biggest talker in the world, as many people are not. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. I would like to link this quote to a quote from the movie theaters: "Silence is Golden." Although this quote is used to simply quiet the audience, it also has significance. The movie can be related to life. When watching a movie, it is easier to understand it by watching, and not discussing about it. The same thing goes for life. You cannot learn about the world and about life through a philosophy class or the internet. Those things make life lose its essence. If you truly want to learn about the world and its spirituality, you can step outside, travel the world, and simply view and observe the world.
later on, Emerson goes to talk about how it is ridiculous to attempt at describing God. This reminds me of Martin Luther and Protestantism. Martin Luther did not understand how Christianity existed if the Bible and the entire religion was interpreted through a priest. Protestantism was built on the idea of individual interpretation. This is the same ideal as Emerson. Think and do things for yourself, and allow others to do the same as well.
Ralph Waldo Emerson uses intense vocabulary to illustrate his points, but this quote clearly illustrates Emerson’s beliefs. “ To be great is to be misunderstood.” I agree with this quote, and I believe that it applies to many people’s lives. This quote, as I interpreted it, means that all great ideas begin as outrageous and misunderstood. For example Albert Einstein was misunderstood in his life. He dropped out of high school which may not be considered such a great idea if you want to be an inventor. Although, he ended up inventing the atomic bomb which caused the destruction of Japan in world war II, and was considered one of the greatest inventions of all time. He also continued to develop his theory of relativity. “ To be great is to be misunderstood” is a quote that might apply to all people that want to become great not only the famous people of the past. Even on an every day basis, we can all relate to this quote. For example if I wanted to become a great athlete I would have to practice a lot. Some may believe that my efforts would be better spent on academics or other areas and believe that I probably would not achieve my goal. But after finally achieving my goal, I can say that I reached greatness, against all odds and harsh criticisms.
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