Ironically considered to be a great man himself, Ralph Emerson, was one of America's most prized thinkers. Emerson leaves behind a legacy of being one of the most influential public orators and writers on this side of history. Emerson's focus was on mans individuality, freedom and the nature of spiritualism. In his essay on self-reliance (1841), Emerson writes:
"To be great is to be misunderstood."
This is a great piece of writing to a have a look at if you're in need for some inspiration. Emerson writes consistently about the importance of believing in yourself, being an individual and never aspiring to imitate or copy others, and to trust your own thoughts (the men who do, he writes, are genius).
Emerson on civilisation: (My favourite part of the essay)
"The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet. He is supported on crutches, but lacks so much support of muscle. He has a fine Geneva watch, but he fails of the skill to tell the hour by the sun. A Greenwich nautical almanac he has, and so being sure of the information when he wants it, the man in the street does not know a star in the sky. The solstice he does not observe; the equinox he knows as little; and the whole bright calendar of the year is without a dial in his mind. His note-books impair his memory; his libraries overload his wit; the insurance-office increases the number of accidents; and it may be a question whether machinery does not encumber; whether we have not lost by refinement some energy, by a Christianity entrenched in establishments and forms, some vigor of wild virtue."
Absolutely brilliant, and absolutely true.
(Available free to read : http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm )
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