What is the ultimate expression of self-reliance?
Ralph Waldo Emerson, in an 1841 essay, posits that it hinges on the choice one makes to think for themselves. Society provides much good for each of us; shelter, protection from harm, opportunities for technology, education, and work which would otherwise never exist. As with anything in life, though, there are potential drawbacks. For all the many options society presents as great carrots to pursue, they cannot make those things meaningful or worthwhile.
Emerson begins “Self-Reliance” with a Latin maxim, introducing the subject of his essay.
“Do not seek yourself outside yourself.”
My expectation upon picking up this particular essay was that it would espouse the virtues of physical labor for oneself and Emerson does touch on this toward the end of the piece. In order to be able to truly make those actions free, one must think independently. The heart of self-reliance is developing the resolution to think for one’s self.
Echoing the wisdom of the Stoics himself, Emerson would encourage us to focus on the inner person and those things which are within our control, and to act in line with the values we’ve determined for ourselves.
Definition
Self-reliance, in the context of this discussion, is not about building your own house or growing your own food – though it certainly could include these things. In “Self-Reliance”, Emerson is encouraging us to step away from the need for acceptance by society, and instead look to our own values and be bold in acting in line with them. Society can provide amazing and unique opportunities to us, but it can not tell us what really matters in life. These value judgments, at best, can only be affirmed in society. They must be determined by the individual. This is difficult, personal work, requiring deep thought, reflection, and introspection. It’s the most important work you can do.
Society only presents options for you to accept or deny; it can not create value. This understanding can be freeing or terrifying. This realization can pave the way for reflection and more meaningful interactions. At the same time, if you had hoped to find principles in your surroundings, this assertion that they aren’t there might be frightening. The only solution is self-reliance, which Emerson shall detail.
Who is Emerson addressing?
Nineteenth century America was a wild and dangerous place. Between people drinking hard liquor like it was water, the lack of penicillin and cleanliness, the proliferation of violence, a Civil War, and the devil-may-care spending which characterized the later years of the Gilded Age, these hundred years of American history are just as baffling as they are impressive. It is during this time of restlessness that Emerson sees popular American tastes swinging back toward the Old World of English aristocratic society. The idea of choosing to turn back to what has already been found wanting was ludicrous to Emerson; he wanted Americans to look within themselves, and stand boldly for the principles they found there. Independence, democracy, and yes, self-reliance are all embodied in the American spirit itself, and in the ideal American to which Emerson was pointing.
“Self-Reliance” was published ten years after French statesman Alexis de Tocqueville’s visit to America in 1831, and one year after his warning regarding the “tyranny of the majority,” was published in France. Democracy in America itself pointed to the danger of a democratic society where the majority conformed to a single set of ideals, essentially eliminating any chance of new ideas taking root.
Conformity the Opposite of Morality
Emerson also found the tastes of the majority to be short on character and long on insignificance. He admonishes his audience to do the work necessary to think for themselves rather than looking for guidance elsewhere,
“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.”
“Great works of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side.”
Trust your ability to think for yourself.
He intensifies his statement, saying that conformity is in opposition to morality.
“Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.”
The mark of an individual is being able to stand alone. Emerson seeks to wake the sleeping giant of personal integrity.
He resents the idea that society’s approval or rejection should be the measure of how one decides to live their life,
“My life is for itself and not for a spectacle,” and,
“What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think.”
Conformity seeks acceptance by society; morality determines the prudent course of action, regardless of society’s opinion. Conformity places society as the ultimate truth, instead of seeking out truth itself. Emerson’s audience was bowing to custom and traditional ways of viewing the world instead of taking initiative and standing on their convictions.
He concludes the section with an oft-repeated; to take the wisdom found in your solitude with you in the midst of the crowd.
“It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”
Forty years before Rudyard Kipling would summarize this vital conviction of remaining true to yourself and your morals in the midst of trying times all around you in his stirring If—, Emerson has captured its essence in this reflection.
Consistency for Its Own Sake is an Enemy of Self-respect
Lastly, Emerson attacks consistency, or tradition, for it’s own sake. He challenges the notion of a person needing to be thought consistent in their opinions and admonitions, instead of speaking and acting on the truth as they discover it, and he claims that those who would be great are invariably misunderstood. He declares,
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
Leveling on attack on those who maintain that acting in line with what you previously stated is more important than acknowledging truth which may differ from your previous position, Emerson writes that in order to be truly self-reliant you must be willing to state the truth today and again tomorrow, even if they seem to contradict one another. You can only be self-reliant if you choose to discover and follow truth, regardless of the social consequences.
Rather than fretting whether one is thought inconsistent, we should aim to make our decisions from the same values and motivations. This produces a body of decisions or a history illustrating said motives. Actions done separately, but from the same motivation all compound to form a clear pattern. The same motives color and group the individual actions as a single driving force.
“To be great is to be misunderstood.”
As Emerson points out, when we habitually make decisions from a place of integrity and only from that perspective, all our actions form a line; a pattern; a recognizable tone. What’s more, we don’t have to worry about being consistent if we are making righteous decisions.
Then, in a provoking passage, Emerson details how actions and choices compound to effect change larger than the sum of its parts. We create a history of prudent decisions, and build a history of integrity.
“When private men shall act with original views, the luster will be transferred from the actions of kings to those of gentlemen.”
Instead of looking to other people, rulers, customs, and cultures to tell you what is worthwhile, take some time to reflect on what you consider worthwhile. Emerson’s audience were looking to the old systems of aristocracy to define their society and politics, when the real answers to those questions are within the people themselves.
The ultimate form of self-reliance is not needing society or anyone else to tell you what is most important; it’s you deciding for yourself.
When society breaks down, what is your purpose? Where do you find meaning for your work? This morning I read Ecclesiastes, wherein the author, the wise King Solomon, is decrying everything as “grasping for the wind.” Riches, labor, owning vast households of servants and livestock – all is vanity. Solomon concludes that the one thing we can do while alive to mark our time as meaningful is finding joy in our work. This isn’t relegated to a day job of course, but is like a fragrance marking everything you bring effort to. Work toward something worthwhile which makes you happy. Society can’t tell you what that is. They are all busy chasing the wind. Do the work of introspection and live in line with it.
This is slow and difficult work. Most people don’t reflect on their principles, or stop to even verify they have principles. It takes effort. As Emerson reflects, most people simply conform because it’s the easier path. Exceptional people reflect and act in line with the person they want to become. As we take steps toward becoming that person, the opinions and pointless check-pointing against others loses its appeal. You don’t need to measure yourself against others, because you are simply taking one step at a time to being your ideal self.
Getting Specific
In the final section, Emerson identifies four specific areas directly impacted by this “revolution of self-reliance.” First, religion; he advocates for unity, for seeking the good of all, rather than separation, and dualism. Emerson sees prayers for personal or private gain as blasphemous to the unity of humanity and nature; he calls them “a disease of the will.” He takes a more Unitarian approach advocating that all action is in some way a prayer, in that it is action taken to bring about a desired effect. Prayer, then, should be spoken as the farmer goes to work, or as you go about your duties. Essentially, do the best in your control, and leave the rest to God, essentially.
Next, the common idea of travel as a means of self-improvement. You will be the same person in Spain as you are in America. If you are discontent and ignorant in the US, you’ll be discontent and ignorant while traveling. Emerson clarifies that he isn’t opposed to travel for art or study; he is attacking the idea that a mysterious, distant land possesses some truth you can not find in your current location. He is simply stating that truth is discovered by reflecting on timeless wisdom and not in endless travels.
Thirdly, and relatedly, Emerson touches on education. Our education systems, then and now, train for conformity and imitation. We are not taught to think up new ideas or conclusions, or test them in most school settings. Far from advocating a particular system of education, Emerson is showing the difference self-reliance will make in education. Once people begin reflecting on their principles and acting in line with them, education becomes less about rote information and more about supporting and building toward individual goals. “Insist on yourself; never imitate.” Trusting your unique talents and perspectives aid lifelong education and should be encouraged, not suffered through.
The fourth area identified is the spirit of society itself. Rather than looking to other cultures for objects and ideas to assimilate, the answer is to think and reflect on what would benefit all, Emerson maintains. He makes a prescient point that society doesn’t advance, but assimilates new information and technology. We trade physical strength for intellect and costly objects. Emerson describes the civilized man who,
“has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet….He has a fine Geneva watch, but he fails of the skill to tell the hour by the sun.”
In our advancing, we lose certain skills and abilities. Emerson saw this as a tragic loss, and an indication of society growing despite nature, instead of along with it. Today, we see skills like penmanship, sewing, and word working declining; whether these are worth maintaining is a matter of individual decision. We, just as Emerson did, can only determine the personal value of these skills through individual reflection. This self-reliance is the way we best accomplish our goals and walk in line with our principles ensuring we direct society and, technology in particular, instead of being dragged along by it.
Final Thoughts
Beyond the noise of having the latest piece of tech, or the right numbers in the bank, or maintaining the “right” position, what matters to you? This is the place to start when making decisions. The next step is being bold enough to maintain those actions, regardless of society’s opinion.
Do the work of discovering what is most valuable in your life and work to eliminate anything in defiance or contradictory to that aim.
I’ll close with Emerson’s fitting final line, “Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.”
*All quotes taken from the 1984 edition of Penguin’s Classics’ Selected Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson, unless otherwise indicated.
