Self-Reliance

Definition

"Self-Reliance" is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson that contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes, the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow their own instincts and ideas.

Related terms

Transcendentalism: The philosophical movement that emphasizes inherent goodness of people and nature which forms the basis for Emerson's essay.

Individualism: A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control which is a key theme in Self-Reliance.

Nonconformity: Refusal to conform to an established or conventional creed, rule, or practice; another major theme in Self-Reliance.