Published in 1841, “Self-Reliance” is a seminal essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) which promoted belief in oneself. Though a more familiar theme in today’s world, at the time, it was a revolutionary statement. In his essay, Emerson eloquently implores individuals to seize the truth within. He states, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” Over the course of 10,000 words, he repeatedly tells us to not rely on others for answers and knowledge; but rather, to have the courage to pronounce our own thoughts and risk the possibility of rejection in the process. In short, he believed that each of us possessed the capacity to be self-reliant. Not as it pertains to wealth or survival skills, but as it relates to our minds, our ideas and instincts, our goals and aspirations.
In “Self-Reliance,” Emerson strikes out against conformity, believing that to adhere to it is to short-change our individual selves. His argument is that if we look to others for guidance, the chances are likely that we will recognize our own ideas within theirs. And if so, does that not mean that we are capable of such brilliance in our own right? If this be true, why should we fear letting others know? As a Transcendentalist, Emerson subscribed to the belief that every individual could achieve an ideal spiritual state via his/her own intuition. To conform would be to squash that intuition. To sail along straight instead of finding our own true path. As Emerson noted, “The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tracks.”
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