Essays: First Series/Self-Reliance

< Essays: First Series Jump to: navigation, search Essays: First Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson #ompensation Self-Reliance, 18 ! e"ition

History

$%e te &uaesiveris e'tra()1*$ $+an is his o,n star- an" the soul that can Ren"er an honest an" a perfect man, #omman"s all light, all influence, all fate%othing to him falls early or too late( .ur acts our angels are, or goo" or ill, .ur fatal sha"o,s that ,al/ 0y us still($
Epilogue to Beaumont and Fletcher's Honest Man's Fortune

#ast the 0antling on the roc/s, Suc/le him ,ith the she-,olf1s teat2intere" ,ith the ha,/ an" fo', 3o,er an" spee" 0e han"s an" feet( ESS45 66: Self-Reliance 6 rea" the other "ay some verses ,ritten 0y an eminent painter ,hich ,ere original an" not conventional( 7he soul al,ays hears an a"monition in such lines, let the su08ect 0e ,hat it may( 7he sentiment they instill is of more value than any thought they may contain( To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. Spea/ your latent conviction, an" it shall 0e the universal sense- for the inmost in "ue time 0ecomes the outmost,9 an" our first thought is ren"ere" 0ac/ to us 0y the trumpets of the :ast Ju"gment( Familiar as the voice of the min" is to each, the highest merit ,e ascri0e to +oses, 3lato, an" +ilton is, that they set at naught 0oo/s an" tra"itions, an" spo/e not ,hat men 0ut ,hat they thought( 4 man shoul" learn to "etect an" ,atch that gleam of light ,hich flashes across his min" from ,ithin, more than the lustre of the firmament of 0ar"s an" sages( 5et he "ismisses ,ithout notice his thought, 0ecause it is his( 6n every ,or/ of genius ,e recogni;e our o,n re8ecte" thoughts: they come 0ac/ to us ,ith a certain alienate" ma8esty( <reat ,or/s of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this( 7hey teach us to a0i"e 0y our spontaneous impression ,ith goo"-humore" infle'i0ility than most ,hen the ,hole cry of voices is on the other si"e( Else, to-morro, a stranger ,ill say ,ith masterly goo" sense precisely ,hat ,e have thought an" felt all the time, an" ,e shall 0e force" to ta/e ,ith shame our o,n opinion from another( There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance- that imitation is suici"e- that he must ta/e himself for 0etter, for ,orse, as his portionthat though the ,i"e universe is full of goo", no /ernel of nourishing corn can come to him 0ut through his toil 0esto,e" on that plot of groun" ,hich is given to him to till( 7he po,er ,hich

resi"es in him is ne, in nature, an" none 0ut he /no,s ,hat that is ,hich he can "o, nor "oes he /no, until he has trie"( %ot for nothing one face, one character, one fact, ma/es much impression on him, an" another none( 7his sculpture in the memory is not ,ithout preesta0lishe" harmony( 7he eye ,as place" ,here one ray shoul" fall, that it might testify of that particular ray( 2e 0ut half e'press ourselves, an" are ashame" of that "ivine i"ea ,hich each of us represents( 6t may 0e safely truste" as proportionate an" of goo" issues, so it 0e faithfully imparte", 0ut <o" ,ill not have his ,or/ ma"e manifest 0y co,ar"s( 4 man is relieve" an" gay ,hen he has put his heart into his ,or/ an" "one his 0est- 0ut ,hat he has sai" or "one other,ise, shall give him no peace( 6t is a "eliverance ,hich "oes not "eliver( 6n the attempt his genius "eserts him- no muse 0efrien"s- no invention, no hope( Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. 4ccept the place the "ivine provi"ence has foun" for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events( <reat men have al,ays "one so, an" confi"e" themselves chil"li/e to the genius of their age, 0etraying their perception that the a0solutely trust,orthy ,as seate" at their heart, ,or/ing through their han"s, pre"ominating in all their 0eing( 4n" ,e are no, men, an" must accept in the highest min" the same transcen"ent "estiny- an" not minors an" invali"s in a protecte" corner, not co,ar"s fleeing 0efore a revolution, 0ut gui"es, re"eemers, an" 0enefactors, o0eying the 4lmighty effort, an" a"vancing on #haos an" the =ar/( 2hat pretty oracles nature yiel"s us on this te't, in the face an" 0ehaviour of chil"ren, 0a0es, an" even 0rutes> 7hat "ivi"e" an" re0el min", that "istrust of a sentiment 0ecause our arithmetic has compute" the strength an" means oppose" to our purpose, these have not( 7heir min" 0eing ,hole, their eye is as yet uncon&uere", an" ,hen ,e loo/ in their faces, ,e are "isconcerte"( 6nfancy conforms to no0o"y: all conform to it, so that one 0a0e commonly ma/es four or five out of the a"ults ,ho prattle an" play to it( So <o" has arme" youth an" pu0erty an" manhoo" no less ,ith its o,n pi&uancy an" charm, an" ma"e it envia0le an" gracious an" its claims not to 0e put 0y, if it ,ill stan" 0y itself( =o not thin/ the youth has no force, 0ecause he cannot spea/ to you an" me( Har/> in the ne't room his voice is sufficiently clear an" emphatic( 6t seems he /no,s ho, to spea/ to his contemporaries( ?ashful or 0ol", then, he ,ill /no, ho, to ma/e us seniors very unnecessary( 7he nonchalance of 0oys ,ho are sure of a "inner, an" ,oul" "is"ain as much as a lor" to "o or say aught to conciliate one, is the healthy attitu"e of human nature( 4 0oy is in the parlour ,hat the pit is in the playhouse- in"epen"ent, irresponsi0le, loo/ing out from his corner on such people an" facts as pass 0y, he tries an" sentences them on their merits, in the s,ift, summary ,ay of 0oys, as goo", 0a", interesting, silly, elo&uent, trou0lesome( He cum0ers himself never a0out conse&uences, a0out interests: he gives an in"epen"ent, genuine ver"ict( 5ou must court him: he "oes not court you( ?ut the man is, as it ,ere, clappe" into 8ail 0y his consciousness( 4s soon as he has once acte" or spo/en ,ith eclat, he is a committe" person, ,atche" 0y the sympathy or the hatre" of hun"re"s, ,hose affections must no, enter into his account( 7here is no :ethe for this( 4h, that he coul" pass again into his neutrality> 2ho can thus avoi" all ple"ges, an" having o0serve", o0serve again from the same unaffecte", un0iase", un0ri0a0le, unaffrighte" innocence, must al,ays 0e formi"a0le( He ,oul" utter opinions on all passing affairs, ,hich 0eing seen to 0e not private, 0ut necessary, ,oul" sin/ li/e "arts into the ear of men, an" put them in fear( 7hese are the voices ,hich ,e hear in solitu"e, 0ut they gro, faint an" inau"i0le as ,e enter into the ,orl"( Society every,here is in conspiracy against the manhoo" of every one of its mem0ers( Society is a 8oint-stoc/ company, in ,hich the mem0ers agree, for the 0etter securing of his 0rea" to each sharehol"er, to surren"er the li0erty an" culture of the eater( 7he virtue in most re&uest is conformity( Self-reliance is its aversion( 6t loves not realities an" creators, 0ut names an" customs(

2hoso ,oul" 0e a man must 0e a nonconformist( He ,ho ,oul" gather immortal palms must not 0e hin"ere" 0y the name of goo"ness, 0ut must e'plore if it 0e goo"ness( %othing is at last sacre" 0ut the integrity of your o,n min"( 40solve you to yourself, an" you shall have the suffrage of the ,orl"( 6 remem0er an ans,er ,hich ,hen &uite young 6 ,as prompte" to ma/e to a value" a"viser, ,ho ,as ,ont to importune me ,ith the "ear ol" "octrines of the church( .n my saying, 2hat have 6 to "o ,ith the sacre"ness of tra"itions, if 6 live ,holly from ,ithin@ my frien" suggeste",9 $?ut these impulses may 0e from 0elo,, not from a0ove($ 6 replie", $7hey "o not seem to me to 0e such- 0ut if 6 am the =evil1s chil", 6 ,ill live then from the =evil($ %o la, can 0e sacre" to me 0ut that of my nature( <oo" an" 0a" are 0ut names very rea"ily transfera0le to that or this- the only right is ,hat is after my constitution, the only ,rong ,hat is against it( 4 man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition, as if every thing ,ere titular an" ephemeral 0ut he( 6 am ashame" to thin/ ho, easily ,e capitulate to 0a"ges an" names, to large societies an" "ea" institutions( Every "ecent an" ,ell-spo/en in"ivi"ual affects an" s,ays me more than is right( 6 ought to go upright an" vital, an" spea/ the ru"e truth in all ,ays( 6f malice an" vanity ,ear the coat of philanthropy, shall that pass@ 6f an angry 0igot assumes this 0ountiful cause of 40olition, an" comes to me ,ith his last ne,s from ?ar0a"oes, ,hy shoul" 6 not say to him, A<o love thy infant- love thy ,oo"-chopper: 0e goo"-nature" an" mo"est: have that grace- an" never varnish your har", uncharita0le am0ition ,ith this incre"i0le ten"erness for 0lac/ fol/ a thousan" miles off( 7hy love afar is spite at home(B Rough an" graceless ,oul" 0e such greeting, 0ut truth is han"somer than the affectation of love( 5our goo"ness must have some e"ge to it, 9else it is none( 7he "octrine of hatre" must 0e preache" as the counteraction of the "octrine of love ,hen that pules an" ,hines( 6 shun father an" mother an" ,ife an" 0rother, ,hen my genius calls me( 6 ,oul" ,rite on the lintels of the "oor-post, 2him( 6 hope it is some,hat 0etter than ,him at last, 0ut ,e cannot spen" the "ay in e'planation( E'pect me not to sho, cause ,hy 6 see/ or ,hy 6 e'clu"e company( 7hen, again, "o not tell me, as a goo" man "i" to-"ay, of my o0ligation to put all poor men in goo" situations( 4re they my poor@ 6 tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that 6 gru"ge the "ollar, the "ime, the cent, 6 give to such men as "o not 0elong to me an" to ,hom 6 "o not 0elong( 7here is a class of persons to ,hom 0y all spiritual affinity 6 am 0ought an" sol"- for them 6 ,ill go to prison, if nee" 0e- 0ut your miscellaneous popular charities- the e"ucation at college of fools- the 0uil"ing of meeting-houses to the vain en" to ,hich many no, stan"- alms to sots- an" the thousan"fol" Relief Societies- 9though 6 confess ,ith shame 6 sometimes succum0 an" give the "ollar, it is a ,ic/e" "ollar ,hich 0y an" 0y 6 shall have the manhoo" to ,ithhol"( Cirtues are, in the popular estimate, rather the e'ception than the rule( 7here is the man an" his virtues( +en "o ,hat is calle" a goo" action, as some piece of courage or charity, much as they ,oul" pay a fine in e'piation of "aily non-appearance on para"e( 7heir ,or/s are "one as an apology or e'tenuation of their living in the ,orl",9as invali"s an" the insane pay a high 0oar"( 7heir virtues are penances( 6 "o not ,ish to e'piate, 0ut to live( +y life is for itself an" not for a spectacle( 6 much prefer that it shoul" 0e of a lo,er strain, so it 0e genuine an" e&ual, than that it shoul" 0e glittering an" unstea"y( 6 ,ish it to 0e soun" an" s,eet, an" not to nee" "iet an" 0lee"ing( 6 as/ primary evi"ence that you are a man, an" refuse this appeal from the man to his actions( 6 /no, that for myself it ma/es no "ifference ,hether 6 "o or for0ear those actions ,hich are rec/one" e'cellent( 6 cannot consent to pay for a privilege ,here 6 have intrinsic right( Fe, an" mean as my gifts may 0e, 6 actually am, an" "o not nee" for my o,n assurance or the assurance of my fello,s any secon"ary testimony( 2hat 6 must "o is all that concerns me, not ,hat the people thin/( 7his rule, e&ually ar"uous in actual an" in intellectual life, may serve for the ,hole "istinction 0et,een greatness an" meanness( 6t is the har"er 0ecause you ,ill al,ays fin" those ,ho thin/ they /no, ,hat is your "uty 0etter than you /no, it( 6t is easy in the ,orl" to live after the ,orl"1s opinion- it is easy in

solitu"e to live after our o,n- 0ut the great man is he ,ho in the mi"st of the cro," /eeps ,ith perfect s,eetness the in"epen"ence of solitu"e( 7he o08ection to conforming to usages that have 0ecome "ea" to you is that it scatters your force( 6t loses your time an" 0lurs the impression of your character( 6f you maintain a "ea" church, contri0ute to a "ea" ?i0le-society, vote ,ith a great party either for the government or against it, sprea" your ta0le li/e 0ase house/eepers,9un"er all these screens 6 have "ifficulty to "etect the precise man you are: an" of course so much force is ,ith"ra,n from your proper life( ?ut "o your ,or/, an" 6 shall /no, you( =o your ,or/, an" you shall reinforce yourself( 4 man must consi"er ,hat a 0lin"-man1s-0uff is this game of conformity( 6f 6 /no, your sect 6 anticipate your argument( 6 hear a preacher announce for his te't an" topic the e'pe"iency of one of the institutions of his church( =o 6 not /no, 0eforehan" that not possi0ly can he say a ne, spontaneous ,or"@ =o 6 not /no, that ,ith all this ostentation of e'amining the groun"s of the institution he ,ill "o no such thing@ =o 6 not /no, that he is ple"ge" to himself not to loo/ 0ut at one si"e, the permitte" si"e, not as a man, 0ut as a parish minister@ He is a retaine" attorney, an" these airs of the 0ench are the emptiest affectation( 2ell, most men have 0oun" their eyes ,ith one or another han"/erchief, an" attache" themselves to some one of these communities of opinion( 7his conformity ma/es them not false in a fe, particulars, authors of a fe, lies, 0ut false in all particulars( 7heir every truth is not &uite true( 7heir t,o is not the real t,o, their four not the real four- so that every ,or" they say chagrins us an" ,e /no, not ,here to 0egin to set them right( +eantime nature is not slo, to e&uip us in the prison-uniform of the party to ,hich ,e a"here( 2e come to ,ear one cut of face an" figure, an" ac&uire 0y "egrees the gentlest asinine e'pression( 7here is a mortifying e'perience in particular, ,hich "oes not fail to ,rea/ itself also in the general history- 6 mean $the foolish face of praise,$ the force" smile ,hich ,e put on in company ,here ,e "o not feel at ease, in ans,er to conversation ,hich "oes not interest us( 7he muscles, not spontaneously move" 0ut move" 0y a lo, usurping ,ilfulness, gro, tight a0out the outline of the face, ,ith the most "isagreea0le sensation( For nonconformity the ,orl" ,hips you ,ith its "ispleasure( 4n" therefore a man must /no, ho, to estimate a sour face( 7he 0y-stan"ers loo/ as/ance on him in the pu0lic street or in the frien"1s parlor( 6f this aversion ha" its origin in contempt an" resistance li/e his o,n he might ,ell go home ,ith a sa" countenance- 0ut the sour faces of the multitu"e, li/e their s,eet faces, have no "eep cause, 0ut are put on an" off as the ,in" 0lo,s an" a ne,spaper "irects( 5et is the "iscontent of the multitu"e more formi"a0le than that of the senate an" the college( 6t is easy enough for a firm man ,ho /no,s the ,orl" to 0roo/ the rage of the cultivate" classes( 7heir rage is "ecorous an" pru"ent, for they are timi", as 0eing very vulnera0le themselves( ?ut ,hen to their feminine rage the in"ignation of the people is a""e", ,hen the ignorant an" the poor are arouse", ,hen the unintelligent 0rute force that lies at the 0ottom of society is ma"e to gro,l an" mo,, it nee"s the ha0it of magnanimity an" religion to treat it go"li/e as a trifle of no concernment( 7he other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency- a reverence for our past act or ,or" 0ecause the eyes of others have no other "ata for computing our or0it than our past acts, an" ,e are loath to "isappoint them( ?ut ,hy shoul" you /eep your hea" over your shoul"er@ 2hy "rag a0out this corpse of your memory, lest you contra"ict some,hat you have state" in this or that pu0lic place@ Suppose you shoul" contra"ict yourself- ,hat then@ 6t seems to 0e a rule of ,is"om never to rely on your memory alone, scarcely even in acts of pure memory, 0ut to 0ring the past for 8u"gment into the thousan"-eye" present, an" live ever in a ne, "ay( 6n your metaphysics you have "enie" personality to the =eity, yet ,hen the "evout motions of the soul come, yiel" to them heart an" life though they shoul" clothe <o" ,ith shape an" color( :eave your theory, as Joseph his coat in

the han" of the harlot, an" flee( 4 foolish consistency is the ho0go0lin of little min"s, a"ore" 0y little statesmen an" philosophers an" "ivines( 2ith consistency a great soul has simply nothing to "o( He may as ,ell concern himself ,ith his sha"o, on the ,all( Spea/ ,hat you thin/ no, in har" ,or"s, an" to-morro, spea/ ,hat to-morro, thin/s in har" ,or"s again, though it contra"ict every thing you sai" to"ay(9 14h, so you shall 0e sure to 0e misun"erstoo"(1 96s it so 0a", then, to 0e misun"erstoo"@ 3ythagoras ,as misun"erstoo", an" Socrates, an" Jesus, an" :uther, an" #opernicus, an" <alileo, an" %e,ton, an" every pure an" ,ise spirit that ever too/ flesh( 7o 0e great is to 0e misun"erstoo"( 6 suppose no man can violate his nature( 4ll the sallies of his ,ill are roun"e" in 0y the la, of his 0eing, as the ine&ualities of 4n"es an" Himmaleh are insignificant in the curve of the sphere( %or "oes it matter ho, you gauge an" try him( 4 character is li/e an acrostic or 4le'an"rian stan;a- 9 rea" it for,ar", 0ac/,ar", or across, it still spells the same thing( 6n this pleasing, contrite ,oo"life ,hich <o" allo,s me, let me recor" "ay 0y "ay my honest thought ,ithout prospect or retrospect, an", 6 cannot "ou0t, it ,ill 0e foun" symmetrical, though 6 mean it not, an" see it not( +y 0oo/ shoul" smell of pines an" resoun" ,ith the hum of insects( 7he s,allo, over my ,in"o, shoul" inter,eave that threa" or stra, he carries in his 0ill into my ,e0 also( 2e pass for ,hat ,e are( #haracter teaches a0ove our ,ills( +en imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only 0y overt actions, an" "o not see that virtue or vice emit a 0reath every moment( 7here ,ill 0e an agreement in ,hatever variety of actions, so they 0e each honest an" natural in their hour( For of one ,ill, the actions ,ill 0e harmonious, ho,ever unli/e they seem( 7hese varieties are lost sight of at a little "istance, at a little height of thought( .ne ten"ency unites them all( 7he voyage of the 0est ship is a ;ig;ag line of a hun"re" tac/s( See the line from a sufficient "istance, an" it straightens itself to the average ten"ency( 5our genuine action ,ill e'plain itself, an" ,ill e'plain your other genuine actions( 5our conformity e'plains nothing( 4ct singly, an" ,hat you have alrea"y "one singly ,ill 8ustify you no,( <reatness appeals to the future( 6f 6 can 0e firm enough to-"ay to "o right, an" scorn eyes, 6 must have "one so much right 0efore as to "efen" me no,( ?e it ho, it ,ill, "o right no,( 4l,ays scorn appearances, an" you al,ays may( 7he force of character is cumulative( 4ll the foregone "ays of virtue ,or/ their health into this( 2hat ma/es the ma8esty of the heroes of the senate an" the fiel", ,hich so fills the imagination@ 7he consciousness of a train of great "ays an" victories 0ehin"( 7hey she" an unite" light on the a"vancing actor( He is atten"e" as 0y a visi0le escort of angels( 7hat is it ,hich thro,s thun"er into #hatham1s voice, an" "ignity into 2ashington1s port, an" 4merica into 4"ams1s eye( Honor is venera0le to us 0ecause it is no ephemeris( 6t is al,ays ancient virtue( 2e ,orship it to"ay 0ecause it is not of to-"ay( 2e love it an" pay it homage, 0ecause it is not a trap for our love an" homage, 0ut is self-"epen"ent, self-"erive", an" therefore of an ol" immaculate pe"igree, even if sho,n in a young person( 6 hope in these "ays ,e have hear" the last of conformity an" consistency( :et the ,or"s 0e ga;ette" an" ri"iculous hencefor,ar"( 6nstea" of the gong for "inner, let us hear a ,histle from the Spartan fife( :et us never 0o, an" apologi;e more( 4 great man is coming to eat at my house( 6 "o not ,ish to please him- 6 ,ish that he shoul" ,ish to please me( 6 ,ill stan" here for humanity, an" though 6 ,oul" ma/e it /in", 6 ,oul" ma/e it true( :et us affront an" repriman" the smooth me"iocrity an" s&uali" contentment of the times, an" hurl in the face of custom, an" tra"e, an" office, the fact ,hich is the upshot of all history, that there is a great responsi0le 7hin/er an" 4ctor ,or/ing ,herever a man ,or/s- that a true man 0elongs to no other time or place, 0ut is the centre of things( 2here he is, there is nature( He measures you, an" all men, an" all events( .r"inarily, every 0o"y in society remin"s us of some,hat else, or of some other person( #haracter, reality, remin"s you of nothing else- it ta/es place of the ,hole creation( 7he man must

0e so much, that he must ma/e all circumstances in"ifferent( Every true man is a cause, a country, an" an age- re&uires infinite spaces an" num0ers an" time fully to accomplish his "esign- 9an" posterity seem to follo, his steps as a train of clients( 4 man #aesar is 0orn, an" for ages after ,e have a Roman Empire( #hrist is 0orn, an" millions of min"s so gro, an" cleave to his genius, that he is confoun"e" ,ith virtue an" the possi0le of man( 4n institution is the lengthene" sha"o, of one man- as, +onachism, of the Hermit 4ntony- the Reformation, of :uther- Dua/erism, of Fo'+etho"ism, of 2esley- 40olition, of #lar/son( Scipio, +ilton calle" $the height of Rome$- an" all history resolves itself very easily into the 0iography of a fe, stout an" earnest persons( :et a man then /no, his ,orth, an" /eep things un"er his feet( :et him not peep or steal, or s/ul/ up an" "o,n ,ith the air of a charity-0oy, a 0astar", or an interloper, in the ,orl" ,hich e'ists for him( ?ut the man in the street, fin"ing no ,orth in himself ,hich correspon"s to the force ,hich 0uilt a to,er or sculpture" a mar0le go", feels poor ,hen he loo/s on these( 7o him a palace, a statue, or a costly 0oo/ have an alien an" for0i""ing air, much li/e a gay e&uipage, an" seem to say li/e that, A2ho are you, Sir@B 5et they all are his, suitors for his notice, petitioners to his faculties that they ,ill come out an" ta/e possession( 7he picture ,aits for my ver"ict: it is not to comman" me, 0ut 6 am to settle its claims to praise( 7hat popular fa0le of the sot ,ho ,as pic/e" up "ea" "run/ in the street, carrie" to the "u/e1s house, ,ashe" an" "resse" an" lai" in the "u/e1s 0e", an", on his ,a/ing, treate" ,ith all o0se&uious ceremony li/e the "u/e, an" assure" that he ha" 0een insane, o,es its popularity to the fact, that it sym0oli;es so ,ell the state of man, ,ho is in the ,orl" a sort of sot, 0ut no, an" then ,a/es up, e'ercises his reason, an" fin"s himself a true prince( .ur rea"ing is men"icant an" sycophantic( 6n history, our imagination plays us false( Eing"om an" lor"ship, po,er an" estate, are a gau"ier voca0ulary than private John an" E",ar" in a small house an" common "ay1s ,or/- 0ut the things of life are the same to 0oth- the sum total of 0oth is the same( 2hy all this "eference to 4lfre", an" Scan"er0eg, an" <ustavus@ Suppose they ,ere virtuous- "i" they ,ear out virtue@ 4s great a sta/e "epen"s on your private act to-"ay, as follo,e" their pu0lic an" reno,ne" steps( 2hen private men shall act ,ith original vie,s, the lustre ,ill 0e transferre" from the actions of /ings to those of gentlemen( 7he ,orl" has 0een instructe" 0y its /ings, ,ho have so magneti;e" the eyes of nations( 6t has 0een taught 0y this colossal sym0ol the mutual reverence that is "ue from man to man( 7he 8oyful loyalty ,ith ,hich men have every,here suffere" the /ing, the no0le, or the great proprietor to ,al/ among them 0y a la, of his o,n, ma/e his o,n scale of men an" things, an" reverse theirs, pay for 0enefits not ,ith money 0ut ,ith honor, an" represent the la, in his person, ,as the hieroglyphic 0y ,hich they o0scurely signifie" their consciousness of their o,n right an" comeliness, the right of every man( 7he magnetism ,hich all original action e'erts is e'plaine" ,hen ,e in&uire the reason of selftrust( 2ho is the 7rustee@ 2hat is the a0original Self, on ,hich a universal reliance may 0e groun"e"@ 2hat is the nature an" po,er of that science-0affling star, ,ithout paralla', ,ithout calcula0le elements, ,hich shoots a ray of 0eauty even into trivial an" impure actions, if the least mar/ of in"epen"ence appear@ 7he in&uiry lea"s us to that source, at once the essence of genius, of virtue, an" of life, ,hich ,e call Spontaneity or 6nstinct( 2e "enote this primary ,is"om as 6ntuition, ,hilst all later teachings are tuitions( 6n that "eep force, the last fact 0ehin" ,hich analysis cannot go, all things fin" their common origin( For, the sense of 0eing ,hich in calm hours rises, ,e /no, not ho,, in the soul, is not "iverse from things, from space, from light, from time, from man, 0ut one ,ith them, an" procee"s o0viously from the same source ,hence their life an" 0eing also procee"( 2e first share the life 0y ,hich things e'ist, an" after,ar"s see them as appearances in nature, an" forget that ,e have share" their cause( Here is the fountain of action an" of thought( Here are the lungs of that inspiration ,hich giveth man ,is"om, an" ,hich

cannot 0e "enie" ,ithout impiety an" atheism( 2e lie in the lap of immense intelligence, ,hich ma/es us receivers of its truth an" organs of its activity( 2hen ,e "iscern 8ustice, ,hen ,e "iscern truth, ,e "o nothing of ourselves, 0ut allo, a passage to its 0eams( 6f ,e as/ ,hence this comes, if ,e see/ to pry into the soul that causes, all philosophy is at fault( 6ts presence or its a0sence is all ,e can affirm( Every man "iscriminates 0et,een the voluntary acts of his min", an" his involuntary perceptions, an" /no,s that to his involuntary perceptions a perfect faith is "ue( He may err in the e'pression of them, 0ut he /no,s that these things are so, li/e "ay an" night, not to 0e "ispute"( +y ,ilful actions an" ac&uisitions are 0ut roving- 9the i"lest reverie, the faintest native emotion, comman" my curiosity an" respect( 7houghtless people contra"ict as rea"ily the statement of perceptions as of opinions, or rather much more rea"ily- for, they "o not "istinguish 0et,een perception an" notion( 7hey fancy that 6 choose to see this or that thing( ?ut perception is not ,himsical, 0ut fatal( 6f 6 see a trait, my chil"ren ,ill see it after me, an" in course of time, all man/in", 9although it may chance that no one has seen it 0efore me( For my perception of it is as much a fact as the sun( 7he relations of the soul to the "ivine spirit are so pure, that it is profane to see/ to interpose helps( 6t must 0e that ,hen <o" spea/eth he shoul" communicate, not one thing, 0ut all thingsshoul" fill the ,orl" ,ith his voice- shoul" scatter forth light, nature, time, souls, from the centre of the present thought- an" ne, "ate an" ne, create the ,hole( 2henever a min" is simple, an" receives a "ivine ,is"om, ol" things pass a,ay, 9means, teachers, te'ts, temples fall- it lives no,, an" a0sor0s past an" future into the present hour( 4ll things are ma"e sacre" 0y relation to it, 9one as much as another( 4ll things are "issolve" to their centre 0y their cause, an", in the universal miracle, petty an" particular miracles "isappear( 6f, therefore, a man claims to /no, an" spea/ of <o", an" carries you 0ac/,ar" to the phraseology of some ol" moul"ere" nation in another country, in another ,orl", 0elieve him not( 6s the acorn 0etter than the oa/ ,hich is its fulness an" completion@ 6s the parent 0etter than the chil" into ,hom he has cast his ripene" 0eing@ 2hence, then, this ,orship of the past@ 7he centuries are conspirators against the sanity an" authority of the soul( 7ime an" space are 0ut physiological colors ,hich the eye ma/es, 0ut the soul is light- ,here it is, is "ay- ,here it ,as, is night- an" history is an impertinence an" an in8ury, if it 0e any thing more than a cheerful apologue or para0le of my 0eing an" 0ecoming( +an is timi" an" apologetic- he is no longer upright- he "ares not say F6 thin/,1 F6 am,1 0ut &uotes some saint or sage( He is ashame" 0efore the 0la"e of grass or the 0lo,ing rose( 7hese roses un"er my ,in"o, ma/e no reference to former roses or to 0etter ones- they are for ,hat they are- they e'ist ,ith <o" to-"ay( 7here is no time to them( 7here is simply the rose- it is perfect in every moment of its e'istence( ?efore a leaf-0u" has 0urst, its ,hole life acts- in the full-0lo,n flo,er there is no more- in the leafless root there is no less( 6ts nature is satisfie", an" it satisfies nature, in all moments ali/e( ?ut man postpones or remem0ers- he "oes not live in the present, 0ut ,ith reverte" eye laments the past, or, hee"less of the riches that surroun" him, stan"s on tiptoe to foresee the future( He cannot 0e happy an" strong until he too lives ,ith nature in the present, a0ove time( 7his shoul" 0e plain enough( 5et see ,hat strong intellects "are not yet hear <o" himself, unless he spea/ the phraseology of 6 /no, not ,hat =avi", or Jeremiah, or 3aul( 2e shall not al,ays set so great a price on a fe, te'ts, on a fe, lives( 2e are li/e chil"ren ,ho repeat 0y rote the sentences of gran"ames an" tutors, an", as they gro, ol"er, of the men of talents an" character they chance to see, 9painfully recollecting the e'act ,or"s they spo/e- after,ar"s, ,hen they come into the point of vie, ,hich those ha" ,ho uttere" these sayings, they un"erstan" them, an" are ,illing to let the ,or"s go- for, at any time, they can use ,or"s as goo" ,hen occasion comes( 6f ,e live truly, ,e shall see truly( 6t is as easy for the strong man to 0e strong, as it is for the ,ea/ to 0e ,ea/( 2hen ,e have ne, perception, ,e shall gla"ly "is0ur"en the memory of its

hoar"e" treasures as ol" ru00ish( 2hen a man lives ,ith <o", his voice shall 0e as s,eet as the murmur of the 0roo/ an" the rustle of the corn( 4n" no, at last the highest truth on this su08ect remains unsai"- pro0a0ly cannot 0e sai"- for all that ,e say is the far-off remem0ering of the intuition( 7hat thought, 0y ,hat 6 can no, nearest approach to say it, is this( 2hen goo" is near you, ,hen you have life in yourself, it is not 0y any /no,n or accustome" ,ay- you shall not "iscern the foot-prints of any other- you shall not see the face of man- you shall not hear any name-99the ,ay, the thought, the goo", shall 0e ,holly strange an" ne,( 6t shall e'clu"e e'ample an" e'perience( 5ou ta/e the ,ay from man, not to man( 4ll persons that ever e'iste" are its forgotten ministers( Fear an" hope are ali/e 0eneath it( 7here is some,hat lo, even in hope( 6n the hour of vision, there is nothing that can 0e calle" gratitu"e, nor properly 8oy( 7he soul raise" over passion 0ehol"s i"entity an" eternal causation, perceives the self-e'istence of 7ruth an" Right, an" calms itself ,ith /no,ing that all things go ,ell( Cast spaces of nature, the 4tlantic .cean, the South Sea, 9long intervals of time, years, centuries, 9are of no account( 7his ,hich 6 thin/ an" feel un"erlay every former state of life an" circumstances, as it "oes un"erlie my present, an" ,hat is calle" life, an" ,hat is calle" "eath( :ife only avails, not the having live"( 3o,er ceases in the instant of repose- it resi"es in the moment of transition from a past to a ne, state, in the shooting of the gulf, in the "arting to an aim( 7his one fact the ,orl" hates, that the soul 0ecomes- for that for ever "egra"es the past, turns all riches to poverty, all reputation to a shame, confoun"s the saint ,ith the rogue, shoves Jesus an" Ju"as e&ually asi"e( 2hy, then, "o ,e prate of self-reliance@ 6nasmuch as the soul is present, there ,ill 0e po,er not confi"ent 0ut agent( 7o tal/ of reliance is a poor e'ternal ,ay of spea/ing( Spea/ rather of that ,hich relies, 0ecause it ,or/s an" is( 2ho has more o0e"ience than 6 masters me, though he shoul" not raise his finger( Roun" him 6 must revolve 0y the gravitation of spirits( 2e fancy it rhetoric, ,hen ,e spea/ of eminent virtue( 2e "o not yet see that virtue is Height, an" that a man or a company of men, plastic an" permea0le to principles, 0y the la, of nature must overpo,er an" ri"e all cities, nations, /ings, rich men, poets, ,ho are not( 7his is the ultimate fact ,hich ,e so &uic/ly reach on this, as on every topic, the resolution of all into the ever-0lesse" .%E( Self-e'istence is the attri0ute of the Supreme #ause, an" it constitutes the measure of goo" 0y the "egree in ,hich it enters into all lo,er forms( 4ll things real are so 0y so much virtue as they contain( #ommerce, hus0an"ry, hunting, ,haling, ,ar, elo&uence, personal ,eight, are some,hat, an" engage my respect as e'amples of its presence an" impure action( 6 see the same la, ,or/ing in nature for conservation an" gro,th( 3o,er is in nature the essential measure of right( %ature suffers nothing to remain in her /ing"oms ,hich cannot help itself( 7he genesis an" maturation of a planet, its poise an" or0it, the 0en"e" tree recovering itself from the strong ,in", the vital resources of every animal an" vegeta0le, are "emonstrations of the self-sufficing, an" therefore self-relying soul( 7hus all concentrates: let us not rove- let us sit at home ,ith the cause( :et us stun an" astonish the intru"ing ra00le of men an" 0oo/s an" institutions, 0y a simple "eclaration of the "ivine fact( ?i" the inva"ers ta/e the shoes from off their feet, for <o" is here ,ithin( :et our simplicity 8u"ge them, an" our "ocility to our o,n la, "emonstrate the poverty of nature an" fortune 0esi"e our native riches( ?ut no, ,e are a mo0( +an "oes not stan" in a,e of man, nor is his genius a"monishe" to stay at home, to put itself in communication ,ith the internal ocean, 0ut it goes a0roa" to 0eg a cup of ,ater of the urns of other men( 2e must go alone( 6 li/e the silent church 0efore the service 0egins, 0etter than any preaching( Ho, far off, ho, cool, ho, chaste the persons loo/, 0egirt each one ,ith a precinct or sanctuary> So let us al,ays sit( 2hy shoul" ,e assume the faults of our frien", or ,ife, or father, or chil", 0ecause they sit aroun" our hearth, or are sai" to have the same

0loo"@ 4ll men have my 0loo", an" 6 have all men1s( %ot for that ,ill 6 a"opt their petulance or folly, even to the e'tent of 0eing ashame" of it( ?ut your isolation must not 0e mechanical, 0ut spiritual, that is, must 0e elevation( 4t times the ,hole ,orl" seems to 0e in conspiracy to importune you ,ith emphatic trifles( Frien", client, chil", sic/ness, fear, ,ant, charity, all /noc/ at once at thy closet "oor, an" say,9 F#ome out unto us(1 ?ut /eep thy state- come not into their confusion( 7he po,er men possess to annoy me, 6 give them 0y a ,ea/ curiosity( %o man can come near me 0ut through my act( $2hat ,e love that ,e have, 0ut 0y "esire ,e 0ereave ourselves of the love($ 6f ,e cannot at once rise to the sanctities of o0e"ience an" faith, let us at least resist our temptations- let us enter into the state of ,ar, an" ,a/e 7hor an" 2o"en, courage an" constancy, in our Sa'on 0reasts( 7his is to 0e "one in our smooth times 0y spea/ing the truth( #hec/ this lying hospitality an" lying affection( :ive no longer to the e'pectation of these "eceive" an" "eceiving people ,ith ,hom ,e converse( Say to them, . father, . mother, . ,ife, . 0rother, . frien", 6 have live" ,ith you after appearances hitherto( Hencefor,ar" 6 am the truth1s( ?e it /no,n unto you that hencefor,ar" 6 o0ey no la, less than the eternal la,( 6 ,ill have no covenants 0ut pro'imities( 6 shall en"eavour to nourish my parents, to support my family, to 0e the chaste hus0an" of one ,ife, 90ut these relations 6 must fill after a ne, an" unprece"ente" ,ay( 6 appeal from your customs( 6 must 0e myself( 6 cannot 0rea/ myself any longer for you, or you( 6f you can love me for ,hat 6 am, ,e shall 0e the happier( 6f you cannot, 6 ,ill still see/ to "eserve that you shoul"( 6 ,ill not hi"e my tastes or aversions( 6 ,ill so trust that ,hat is "eep is holy, that 6 ,ill "o strongly 0efore the sun an" moon ,hatever inly re8oices me, an" the heart appoints( 6f you are no0le, 6 ,ill love you- if you are not, 6 ,ill not hurt you an" myself 0y hypocritical attentions( 6f you are true, 0ut not in the same truth ,ith me, cleave to your companions- 6 ,ill see/ my o,n( 6 "o this not selfishly, 0ut hum0ly an" truly( 6t is ali/e your interest, an" mine, an" all men1s, ho,ever long ,e have ",elt in lies, to live in truth( =oes this soun" harsh to-"ay@ 5ou ,ill soon love ,hat is "ictate" 0y your nature as ,ell as mine, an", if ,e follo, the truth, it ,ill 0ring us out safe at last( 9?ut so you may give these frien"s pain( 5es, 0ut 6 cannot sell my li0erty an" my po,er, to save their sensi0ility( ?esi"es, all persons have their moments of reason, ,hen they loo/ out into the region of a0solute truth- then ,ill they 8ustify me, an" "o the same thing( 7he populace thin/ that your re8ection of popular stan"ar"s is a re8ection of all stan"ar", an" mere antinomianism- an" the 0ol" sensualist ,ill use the name of philosophy to gil" his crimes( ?ut the la, of consciousness a0i"es( 7here are t,o confessionals, in one or the other of ,hich ,e must 0e shriven( 5ou may fulfil your roun" of "uties 0y clearing yourself in the "irect, or in the refle' ,ay( #onsi"er ,hether you have satisfie" your relations to father, mother, cousin, neigh0our, to,n, cat, an" "og- ,hether any of these can up0rai" you( ?ut 6 may also neglect this refle' stan"ar", an" a0solve me to myself( 6 have my o,n stern claims an" perfect circle( 6t "enies the name of "uty to many offices that are calle" "uties( ?ut if 6 can "ischarge its "e0ts, it ena0les me to "ispense ,ith the popular co"e( 6f any one imagines that this la, is la', let him /eep its comman"ment one "ay( 4n" truly it "eman"s something go"li/e in him ,ho has cast off the common motives of humanity, an" has venture" to trust himself for a tas/master( High 0e his heart, faithful his ,ill, clear his sight, that he may in goo" earnest 0e "octrine, society, la,, to himself, that a simple purpose may 0e to him as strong as iron necessity is to others> 6f any man consi"er the present aspects of ,hat is calle" 0y "istinction society, he ,ill see the nee" of these ethics( 7he sine, an" heart of man seem to 0e "ra,n out, an" ,e are 0ecome timorous, "espon"ing ,himperers( 2e are afrai" of truth, afrai" of fortune, afrai" of "eath, an" afrai" of each other( .ur age yiel"s no great an" perfect persons( 2e ,ant men an" ,omen ,ho shall renovate life an" our social state, 0ut ,e see that most natures are insolvent, cannot satisfy

their o,n ,ants, have an am0ition out of all proportion to their practical force, an" "o lean an" 0eg "ay an" night continually( .ur house/eeping is men"icant, our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, ,e have not chosen, 0ut society has chosen for us( 2e are parlour sol"iers( 2e shun the rugge" 0attle of fate, ,here strength is 0orn( 6f our young men miscarry in their first enterprises, they lose all heart( 6f the young merchant fails, men say he is ruine"( 6f the finest genius stu"ies at one of our colleges, an" is not installe" in an office ,ithin one year after,ar"s in the cities or su0ur0s of ?oston or %e, 5or/, it seems to his frien"s an" to himself that he is right in 0eing "isheartene", an" in complaining the rest of his life( 4 stur"y la" from %e, Hampshire or Cermont, ,ho in turn tries all the professions, ,ho teams it, farms it, pe""les, /eeps a school, preaches, e"its a ne,spaper, goes to #ongress, 0uys a to,nship, an" so forth, in successive years, an" al,ays, li/e a cat, falls on his feet, is ,orth a hun"re" of these city "olls( He ,al/s a0reast ,ith his "ays, an" feels no shame in not Fstu"ying a profession,1 for he "oes not postpone his life, 0ut lives alrea"y( He has not one chance, 0ut a hun"re" chances( :et a Stoic open the resources of man, an" tell men they are not leaning ,illo,s, 0ut can an" must "etach themselves- that ,ith the e'ercise of self-trust, ne, po,ers shall appear- that a man is the ,or" ma"e flesh, 0orn to she" healing to the nations, that he shoul" 0e ashame" of our compassion, an" that the moment he acts from himself, tossing the la,s, the 0oo/s, i"olatries, an" customs out of the ,in"o,, ,e pity him no more, 0ut than/ an" revere him, 9an" that teacher shall restore the life of man to splen"or, an" ma/e his name "ear to all history( 6t is easy to see that a greater self-reliance must ,or/ a revolution in all the offices an" relations of men- in their religion- in their e"ucation- in their pursuits- their mo"es of living- their associationin their property- in their speculative vie,s( 1( 6n ,hat prayers "o men allo, themselves> 7hat ,hich they call a holy office is not so much as 0rave an" manly( 3rayer loo/s a0roa" an" as/s for some foreign a""ition to come through some foreign virtue, an" loses itself in en"less ma;es of natural an" supernatural, an" me"iatorial an" miraculous( 3rayer that craves a particular commo"ity, 9any thing less than all goo", 9is vicious( 3rayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of vie,( 6t is the solilo&uy of a 0ehol"ing an" 8u0ilant soul( 6t is the spirit of <o" pronouncing his ,or/s goo"( ?ut prayer as a means to effect a private en" is meanness an" theft( 6t supposes "ualism an" not unity in nature an" consciousness( 4s soon as the man is at one ,ith <o", he ,ill not 0eg( He ,ill then see prayer in all action( 7he prayer of the farmer /neeling in his fiel" to ,ee" it, the prayer of the ro,er /neeling ,ith the stro/e of his oar, are true prayers hear" throughout nature, though for cheap en"s( #aratach, in Fletcher1s ?on"uca, ,hen a"monishe" to in&uire the min" of the go" 4u"ate, replies,9 $His hi""en meaning lies in our en"eavours.ur valors are our 0est go"s($ 4nother sort of false prayers are our regrets( =iscontent is the ,ant of self-reliance: it is infirmity of ,ill( Regret calamities, if you can there0y help the sufferer- if not, atten" your o,n ,or/, an" alrea"y the evil 0egins to 0e repaire"( .ur sympathy is 8ust as 0ase( 2e come to them ,ho ,eep foolishly, an" sit "o,n an" cry for company, instea" of imparting to them truth an" health in rough electric shoc/s, putting them once more in communication ,ith their o,n reason( 7he secret of fortune is 8oy in our han"s( 2elcome evermore to go"s an" men is the self-helping man( For him all "oors are flung ,i"e: him all tongues greet, all honors cro,n, all eyes follo, ,ith "esire( .ur love goes out to him an" em0races him, 0ecause he "i" not nee" it( 2e solicitously an" apologetically caress an" cele0rate him, 0ecause he hel" on his ,ay an" scorne" our "isappro0ation( 7he go"s love him 0ecause men hate" him( $7o the persevering mortal,$ sai"

Goroaster, $the 0lesse" 6mmortals are s,ift($ 4s men1s prayers are a "isease of the ,ill, so are their cree"s a "isease of the intellect( 7hey say ,ith those foolish 6sraelites, F:et not <o" spea/ to us, lest ,e "ie( Spea/ thou, spea/ any man ,ith us, an" ,e ,ill o0ey(1 Every,here 6 am hin"ere" of meeting <o" in my 0rother, 0ecause he has shut his o,n temple "oors, an" recites fa0les merely of his 0rother1s, or his 0rother1s 0rother1s <o"( Every ne, min" is a ne, classification( 6f it prove a min" of uncommon activity an" po,er, a :oc/e, a :avoisier, a Hutton, a ?entham, a Fourier, it imposes its classification on other men, an" lo> a ne, system( 6n proportion to the "epth of the thought, an" so to the num0er of the o08ects it touches an" 0rings ,ithin reach of the pupil, is his complacency( ?ut chiefly is this apparent in cree"s an" churches, ,hich are also classifications of some po,erful min" acting on the elemental thought of "uty, an" man1s relation to the Highest( Such is #alvinism, Dua/erism, S,e"en0orgism( 7he pupil ta/es the same "elight in su0or"inating every thing to the ne, terminology, as a girl ,ho has 8ust learne" 0otany in seeing a ne, earth an" ne, seasons there0y( 6t ,ill happen for a time, that the pupil ,ill fin" his intellectual po,er has gro,n 0y the stu"y of his master1s min"( ?ut in all un0alance" min"s, the classification is i"oli;e", passes for the en", an" not for a spee"ily e'hausti0le means, so that the ,alls of the system 0len" to their eye in the remote hori;on ,ith the ,alls of the universe- the luminaries of heaven seem to them hung on the arch their master 0uilt( 7hey cannot imagine ho, you aliens have any right to see, 9ho, you can see- F6t must 0e someho, that you stole the light from us(1 7hey "o not yet perceive, that light, unsystematic, in"omita0le, ,ill 0rea/ into any ca0in, even into theirs( :et them chirp a,hile an" call it their o,n( 6f they are honest an" "o ,ell, presently their neat ne, pinfol" ,ill 0e too strait an" lo,, ,ill crac/, ,ill lean, ,ill rot an" vanish, an" the immortal light, all young an" 8oyful, million-or0e", million-colore", ,ill 0eam over the universe as on the first morning( H( 6t is for ,ant of self-culture that the superstition of 7ravelling, ,hose i"ols are 6taly, Englan", Egypt, retains its fascination for all e"ucate" 4mericans( 7hey ,ho ma"e Englan", 6taly, or <reece venera0le in the imagination "i" so 0y stic/ing fast ,here they ,ere, li/e an a'is of the earth( 6n manly hours, ,e feel that "uty is our place( 7he soul is no traveller- the ,ise man stays at home, an" ,hen his necessities, his "uties, on any occasion call him from his house, or into foreign lan"s, he is at home still, an" shall ma/e men sensi0le 0y the e'pression of his countenance, that he goes the missionary of ,is"om an" virtue, an" visits cities an" men li/e a sovereign, an" not li/e an interloper or a valet( 6 have no churlish o08ection to the circumnavigation of the glo0e, for the purposes of art, of stu"y, an" 0enevolence, so that the man is first "omesticate", or "oes not go a0roa" ,ith the hope of fin"ing some,hat greater than he /no,s( He ,ho travels to 0e amuse", or to get some,hat ,hich he "oes not carry, travels a,ay from himself, an" gro,s ol" even in youth among ol" things( 6n 7he0es, in 3almyra, his ,ill an" min" have 0ecome ol" an" "ilapi"ate" as they( He carries ruins to ruins( 7ravelling is a fool1s para"ise( .ur first 8ourneys "iscover to us the in"ifference of places( 4t home 6 "ream that at %aples, at Rome, 6 can 0e into'icate" ,ith 0eauty, an" lose my sa"ness( 6 pac/ my trun/, em0race my frien"s, em0ar/ on the sea, an" at last ,a/e up in %aples, an" there 0esi"e me is the stern fact, the sa" self, unrelenting, i"entical, that 6 fle" from( 6 see/ the Catican, an" the palaces( 6 affect to 0e into'icate" ,ith sights an" suggestions, 0ut 6 am not into'icate"( +y giant goes ,ith me ,herever 6 go( I( ?ut the rage of travelling is a symptom of a "eeper unsoun"ness affecting the ,hole intellectual action( 7he intellect is vaga0on", an" our system of e"ucation fosters restlessness( .ur min"s travel ,hen our 0o"ies are force" to stay at home( 2e imitate- an" ,hat is imitation 0ut the travelling of the min"@ .ur houses are 0uilt ,ith foreign taste- our shelves are garnishe"

,ith foreign ornaments- our opinions, our tastes, our faculties, lean, an" follo, the 3ast an" the =istant( 7he soul create" the arts ,herever they have flourishe"( 6t ,as in his o,n min" that the artist sought his mo"el( 6t ,as an application of his o,n thought to the thing to 0e "one an" the con"itions to 0e o0serve"( 4n" ,hy nee" ,e copy the =oric or the <othic mo"el@ ?eauty, convenience, gran"eur of thought, an" &uaint e'pression are as near to us as to any, an" if the 4merican artist ,ill stu"y ,ith hope an" love the precise thing to 0e "one 0y him, consi"ering the climate, the soil, the length of the "ay, the ,ants of the people, the ha0it an" form of the government, he ,ill create a house in ,hich all these ,ill fin" themselves fitte", an" taste an" sentiment ,ill 0e satisfie" also( 6nsist on yourself- never imitate( 5our o,n gift you can present every moment ,ith the cumulative force of a ,hole life1s cultivation- 0ut of the a"opte" talent of another, you have only an e'temporaneous, half possession( 7hat ,hich each can "o 0est, none 0ut his +a/er can teach him( %o man yet /no,s ,hat it is, nor can, till that person has e'hi0ite" it( 2here is the master ,ho coul" have taught Sha/speare@ 2here is the master ,ho coul" have instructe" Fran/lin, or 2ashington, or ?acon, or %e,ton@ Every great man is a uni&ue( 7he Scipionism of Scipio is precisely that part he coul" not 0orro,( Sha/speare ,ill never 0e ma"e 0y the stu"y of Sha/speare( =o that ,hich is assigne" you, an" you cannot hope too much or "are too much( 7here is at this moment for you an utterance 0rave an" gran" as that of the colossal chisel of 3hi"ias, or tro,el of the Egyptians, or the pen of +oses, or =ante, 0ut "ifferent from all these( %ot possi0ly ,ill the soul all rich, all elo&uent, ,ith thousan"-cloven tongue, "eign to repeat itself- 0ut if you can hear ,hat these patriarchs say, surely you can reply to them in the same pitch of voice- for the ear an" the tongue are t,o organs of one nature( 40i"e in the simple an" no0le regions of thy life, o0ey thy heart, an" thou shalt repro"uce the Fore,orl" again( ( 4s our Religion, our E"ucation, our 4rt loo/ a0roa", so "oes our spirit of society( 4ll men plume themselves on the improvement of society, an" no man improves( Society never a"vances( 6t rece"es as fast on one si"e as it gains on the other( 6t un"ergoes continual changes- it is 0ar0arous, it is civili;e", it is christiani;e", it is rich, it is scientific- 0ut this change is not amelioration( For every thing that is given, something is ta/en( Society ac&uires ne, arts, an" loses ol" instincts( 2hat a contrast 0et,een the ,ell-cla", rea"ing, ,riting, thin/ing 4merican, ,ith a ,atch, a pencil, an" a 0ill of e'change in his poc/et, an" the na/e" %e, Gealan"er, ,hose property is a clu0, a spear, a mat, an" an un"ivi"e" t,entieth of a she" to sleep un"er> ?ut compare the health of the t,o men, an" you shall see that the ,hite man has lost his a0original strength( 6f the traveller tell us truly, stri/e the savage ,ith a 0roa" a'e, an" in a "ay or t,o the flesh shall unite an" heal as if you struc/ the 0lo, into soft pitch, an" the same 0lo, shall sen" the ,hite to his grave( 7he civili;e" man has 0uilt a coach, 0ut has lost the use of his feet( He is supporte" on crutches, 0ut lac/s so much support of muscle( He has a fine <eneva ,atch, 0ut he fails of the s/ill to tell the hour 0y the sun( 4 <reen,ich nautical almanac he has, an" so 0eing sure of the information ,hen he ,ants it, the man in the street "oes not /no, a star in the s/y( 7he solstice he "oes not o0serve- the e&uino' he /no,s as little- an" the ,hole 0right calen"ar of the year is ,ithout a "ial in his min"( His note-0oo/s impair his memory- his li0raries overloa" his ,it- the insurance-office increases the num0er of acci"ents- an" it may 0e a &uestion ,hether machinery "oes not encum0er- ,hether ,e have not lost 0y refinement some energy, 0y a #hristianity entrenche" in esta0lishments an" forms, some vigor of ,il" virtue( For every Stoic ,as a Stoic- 0ut in #hristen"om ,here is the #hristian@ 7here is no more "eviation in the moral stan"ar" than in the stan"ar" of height or 0ul/( %o greater men are no, than ever ,ere( 4 singular e&uality may 0e o0serve" 0et,een the great men

of the first an" of the last ages- nor can all the science, art, religion, an" philosophy of the nineteenth century avail to e"ucate greater men than 3lutarch1s heroes, three or four an" t,enty centuries ago( %ot in time is the race progressive( 3hocion, Socrates, 4na'agoras, =iogenes, are great men, 0ut they leave no class( He ,ho is really of their class ,ill not 0e calle" 0y their name, 0ut ,ill 0e his o,n man, an", in his turn, the foun"er of a sect( 7he arts an" inventions of each perio" are only its costume, an" "o not invigorate men( 7he harm of the improve" machinery may compensate its goo"( Hu"son an" ?ehring accomplishe" so much in their fishing-0oats, as to astonish 3arry an" Fran/lin, ,hose e&uipment e'hauste" the resources of science an" art( <alileo, ,ith an opera-glass, "iscovere" a more splen"i" series of celestial phenomena than any one since( #olum0us foun" the %e, 2orl" in an un"ec/e" 0oat( 6t is curious to see the perio"ical "isuse an" perishing of means an" machinery, ,hich ,ere intro"uce" ,ith lou" lau"ation a fe, years or centuries 0efore( 7he great genius returns to essential man( 2e rec/one" the improvements of the art of ,ar among the triumphs of science, an" yet %apoleon con&uere" Europe 0y the 0ivouac, ,hich consiste" of falling 0ac/ on na/e" valor, an" "isencum0ering it of all ai"s( 7he Emperor hel" it impossi0le to ma/e a perfect army, says :as #asas, $,ithout a0olishing our arms, maga;ines, commissaries, an" carriages, until, in imitation of the Roman custom, the sol"ier shoul" receive his supply of corn, grin" it in his han"-mill, an" 0a/e his 0rea" himself($ Society is a ,ave( 7he ,ave moves on,ar", 0ut the ,ater of ,hich it is compose" "oes not( 7he same particle "oes not rise from the valley to the ri"ge( 6ts unity is only phenomenal( 7he persons ,ho ma/e up a nation to-"ay, ne't year "ie, an" their e'perience ,ith them( 4n" so the reliance on 3roperty, inclu"ing the reliance on governments ,hich protect it, is the ,ant of self-reliance( +en have loo/e" a,ay from themselves an" at things so long, that they have come to esteem the religious, learne", an" civil institutions as guar"s of property, an" they "eprecate assaults on these, 0ecause they feel them to 0e assaults on property( 7hey measure their esteem of each other 0y ,hat each has, an" not 0y ,hat each is( ?ut a cultivate" man 0ecomes ashame" of his property, out of ne, respect for his nature( Especially he hates ,hat he has, if he see that it is acci"ental, 9came to him 0y inheritance, or gift, or crime- then he feels that it is not having- it "oes not 0elong to him, has no root in him, an" merely lies there, 0ecause no revolution or no ro00er ta/es it a,ay( ?ut that ,hich a man is "oes al,ays 0y necessity ac&uire, an" ,hat the man ac&uires is living property, ,hich "oes not ,ait the 0ec/ of rulers, or mo0s, or revolutions, or fire, or storm, or 0an/ruptcies, 0ut perpetually rene,s itself ,herever the man 0reathes( $7hy lot or portion of life,$ sai" the #aliph 4li, $is see/ing after thee- therefore 0e at rest from see/ing after it($ .ur "epen"ence on these foreign goo"s lea"s us to our slavish respect for num0ers( 7he political parties meet in numerous conventions- the greater the concourse, an" ,ith each ne, uproar of announcement, 7he "elegation from Esse'> 7he =emocrats from %e, Hampshire> 7he 2higs of +aine> the young patriot feels himself stronger than 0efore 0y a ne, thousan" of eyes an" arms( 6n li/e manner the reformers summon conventions, an" vote an" resolve in multitu"e( %ot so, . frien"s> ,ill the <o" "eign to enter an" inha0it you, 0ut 0y a metho" precisely the reverse( 6t is only as a man puts off all foreign support, an" stan"s alone, that 6 see him to 0e strong an" to prevail( He is ,ea/er 0y every recruit to his 0anner( 6s not a man 0etter than a to,n@ 4s/ nothing of men, an" in the en"less mutation, thou only firm column must presently appear the uphol"er of all that surroun"s thee( He ,ho /no,s that po,er is in0orn, that he is ,ea/ 0ecause he has loo/e" for goo" out of him an" else,here, an" so perceiving, thro,s himself unhesitatingly on his thought, instantly rights himself, stan"s in the erect position, comman"s his lim0s, ,or/s miracles- 8ust as a man ,ho stan"s on his feet is stronger than a man ,ho stan"s on his hea"( So use all that is calle" Fortune( +ost men gam0le ,ith her, an" gain all, an" lose all, as her ,heel

rolls( ?ut "o thou leave as unla,ful these ,innings, an" "eal ,ith #ause an" Effect, the chancellors of <o"( 6n the 2ill ,or/ an" ac&uire, an" thou hast chaine" the ,heel of #hance, an" shalt sit hereafter out of fear from her rotations( 4 political victory, a rise of rents, the recovery of your sic/, or the return of your a0sent frien", or some other favora0le event, raises your spirits, an" you thin/ goo" "ays are preparing for you( =o not 0elieve it( %othing can 0ring you peace 0ut yourself( %othing can 0ring you peace 0ut the triumph of principles