Jeremy Keeshin Self-Reliance – Ralph Waldo Emerson I.
Thesis: Thesi s: Soci Societ ety y is is pre preyi ying ng on all all men men,, and and only only the reli relian ance ce on the powe powerr of the individual and the soul can lead men to truth and greatness. II. II. Conte Contenti ntion: on: A per perso son n needs needs to tru trust st his his or or her her own own thou thought ghtss and and insti instinct nctss and speak them aloud. a. If you you speak speak your opinion, opinion, and it it will will be the the universal universal opinion opinion (59). (59). b. Speak your your idea today so so another another person person does not take it tomorrow tomorrow (60). (60). c. Trustin Trusting g yourself yourself is import important ant in in finding finding truth (74). d. You can be be clear clear sighted sighted if if you trust trust yourself yourself (75). III. III. Conte Contenti ntion: on: Ackno Acknowl wledg edgee your your plac placee in in soc socie iety ty.. a. A child knows their place, and it is not not among among adults adults (61). (61). b. A child can speak speak well well among among his contemporar contemporaries ies (61). (61). IV. IV. Contenti Contention: on: A person person who who confo conforms rms to soci society ety loses loses part part of their their ident identity ity.. a. The most most importa important nt virtue virtue is selfself-rel relian iance ce (62). (62). b. Cons Consis iste tency ncy is bori boring. ng. c. Great Great men are not imitat imitators ors (79). (79). d. Societ Society y weaken weakenss men, stro strong ng men stan stand d alone alone (82). (82). V. Cont Conten enti tion on:: Gre Great at min minds ds are are mis misun unde ders rsto tood od.. a. Pythagoras Pythagoras,, Galileo, Galileo, Luther Luther,, Jesus, Jesus, Socrates Socrates,, Newton, Newton, and Copernicu Copernicuss were misunderstood (66). b. People People are misunderst misunderstood ood when when they have excelle excellent nt ideas. ideas. VI. Contenti Contention: on: Great Great men believ believee in in thems themselv elves es and other other will will foll follow ow them. them. a. The Roma Roman n Empir Empiree follow followed ed Caes Caesar ar (68) (68).. b. The Refo Reforma rmatio tion n follow followed ed Luthe Lutherr (68). (68). c. The poor drunken sot who who wakes wakes up and and is treated treated like like a duke duke shows shows the true worth of man (68). VII. VII. Contenti Contention: on: Perc Percepti eption on is real, real, but but time time and and space space are are only only perce perceive ived d conditions. a. Generations Generations will will believ believee what generations generations before them thought thought (70). b. Time Time is the the only difference difference between between the the oak and and acorn and and parent parent and child (71). c. Man does not live live in the presen present, t, but if if he wants wants to be be strong strong he must must (71). VIII. VIII. A renewed reliance reliance on the individu individual al will will change change all aspects aspects of life. a. Self-reli Self-reliance ance changes changes the way way you you look look at prayer prayer (76). (76). b. Traveling Traveling leads you you nowhere, nowhere, only away from from yourself yourself (78). c. Society Society advances advances nowhere nowhere because because its its gains in certain certain areas areas are losses losses in others (80). d. We rely on other other mechanisms mechanisms such as property property and governm government, ent, but we truly want to rely on our selves (82).
