Today I've got something a little more personal for all of you. Upon a recent reading of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance, I was inspired to pen a quick reflection on the essay's fundamental ideas. Thought my readers might find it interesting; enjoy. For an online copy of the text of the essay, click here.
The passage in Emerson's Self-Reliance that struck me most was in the final paragraph, where Emerson assures the reader that "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." For me, these lines inspire and vindicate me simultaneously, as an affirmation that my lifestyle is the right course of action and that it's worth continuing to pursue. Allow me to explain.
Another quote attributed to Mr. Emerson is "Make your own Bible," an idea that has driven my intellectual development for several years now. During high school, I rejected a religious faith I found repressive, distorted and irrational in favor of secular humanism, a personal atheism infused with a complex and self-imposed ethical system. With no moral authority to [mis]lead me, I developed a sense of morality and ethics on my own to live my life by, and after years of self-examination produced a system I believe to be the most ethically justifiable and objectively forward possible. It shocks many traditional Christians to find that the moral standards I hold myself to are oftentimes more strict than their own!
The reason, I believe, for this consistency is that I developed and discovered my ideals for myself - I myself stumbled upon the pure goodness of human rights, the importance of respecting women as an equal and not a sexual object, the nobility of playing the role of consistent gentleman. My uncompromising emotional sobriety has earned me a two-sided reputation in college, my atheism creating countless enemies and my straightforward ethical grounding earning respect amongst my friends. And the best part is, I wouldn't have it any other way. As Thoreau put it, "A man in the right is a majority of one."
And so Emerson's promise of peace to those who live by their principles grants me solace during a trying time of my life. It's difficult at times to stay true to my hard-fought ideals, but in the end, Emerson offers a priceless sense of optimism. And I'm inclined to agree with him. Thanks, M.
