Comments on: Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

By: Tom C

Tom C — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:58:27 +0000

I sometimes hear myself saying; I gave up all serious attempts at reading to gain knowledge a dozen years ago. I imagined at the time; I had learned enough to hopefully allow me; to use what I’d learned to piece together life’s mysteries on my own. I even gave up my small library of books. I remember around that same time a dozen years ago; scrolling through the pages of a book on Emerson. It did not peak my interest at the time. Yet the depth of thought, within many of the passages in your essay was startling. I believe each one of us is a sovereign being, where society is (a mirror representation of ourselves as well as) an aspect of our environment; and ones principles are determined by ones appropriate orientation to said environment…..
Anyways, thanks for the great reintroduction to Emerson!
Tom.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:51:04 +0000

Steve, it almost seems that today’s entrepreneur might be near to Emerson’s nonconformist. Thanks for sharing the real gems of Emerson’s still timely thoughts!

By: Alik

Alik — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:21:51 +0000

I am not American and Waldo Emerson was nobody for me until recently. Until I stumbled on his quote about principles:
“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.”

Love from the first quote.

Great post especially the bottom line

Happy New Year!!

By: tracy ho

tracy ho — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:39:17 +0000

Good article for life , you inspired of journey in my life,

Thank you,

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2008

Tracy Ho
wisdomgettingloaded

By: Lisa Gates

Lisa Gates — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:21:01 +0000

Are you kidding? A post on Emerson and no comments yet! Are we anachronisms? I have just finished editing my father’s book–a historical fiction about Emerson and a few other characters…Mark Twain among them. I’m sending you the book when it’s out.

I read, and re-read that essay so many times I thought I’d found a new bible.

“Beware when the great god lets loose a thinker on this planet.”

Lisa