Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nature" and "Self Reliance"

Found Waldo

Ralph Waldo Emerson was the key player of  the American Transcendentalism philosophical movement  during the late 1820s and '30s. His ideas of Transcendentalism changed his era, his ideas and works were centered around four core concepts. Optimism, self reliance, intuition and individualism, theses four were also the big idea of Transcendentalism. To connect the four ideas I will use quotes from two of his popular essays. 

Nature

Self-Reliance

And

Self-Reliance

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you is your private heart, is true for all men,- that is genius."(Emerson, 181)-Self-Reliance

Self-Reliance means relying on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others. Once finding self-reliance you can unlock the true full potential with little to none limitations. The quote sates the same idea, you find your private heart you open up the full potential, if you mold conformity you lose this great power. Staying with your own thoughts, beliefs and values will lead you to this private heart.

Individualism

“To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.”(Emerson)-Nature

Emerson is saying that imitating someone else or society is killing yourself. If you are not being who you are, might as well not be here at all. When you are a copy someone, you lose your identity. Emerson is elaborating on that fact, people need to take pride in our own individuality and every person was made to be different. It is completely pointless to be a duplicate of someone else.

Optimism

"he has not one chance, but a hundred chances"(Emerson)-Self-Reliance

Optimism is a tenancy to look at any side of events and look for the most favorable outcome. This quote greatly defines optimism. Rather that dwelling on the past mistakes, a lessons can be learned instead. Then building better upon this mistake. This shows optimism in making the best of every situation or event. 

Intuition

“The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child.”(Emerson)-Nature

Intuition can mean the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. Trust their subconscious, 'sixth sense', gut feeling can all be related to intuition. In the quote i believe it can mean that adults can look at something and see it exactly as it is. A child can look at the same thing and see what it can be. In other words, children see more in things than adults do. So when the sun shine the child sees the sun and it truly it means something to them. When the sun shines on a adult it only makes the mans eyes illuminate, he doesn't think anything of it. The child is the intuitors.