Self-Reliance

Emerson makes the argument that our own spiritual success is dependent on two things, that we never conform to the opinions of the mass and that our own opinions do not remain constantly constant (pun intended). These two notions seem at first glance to be contradictory, and as such, we must hold two contradictory notions in our head if we are to grasp the essence of what Emerson is saying. Emerson says we must constantly evaluate the things we believe in. In a way, we can not become self-conformists, adhering to what we believe in so strongly that we never question it. This is as much a cause for ignorance as any other. The other major point Emerson makes is that we cannot conform to opinions of a group. But, at the same time, we cannot be completely separate from the group. We must be part of the group and yet separate at the same time. This is the true key to self-reliance.