Self-Reliance Rocks

"Everywhere I am hindered of meeting God in my brother, because he has shut his own temple doors, and recites fables merely of his brother's, or his brother's brother's God. Every new mind is a new classification."--Emerson's "Self-Reliance", page 106

First of all, thank you, Emerson! Throughout most of AP Comp, I have felt irritated with the writers (I'm looking at you Smith, Edwards) so it was nice to actually read something I not only like, but largely agreed with for once. Yay!

Anyway, I chose this passage because of how Emerson immerses his writing in things that would make the average Pope protest, like Pantheism. What I get out of this passage is that we all have our own reality, our own morals and credos, but that we shut away our truths for someone else’s truth—be it by your parents or pastor or whatever. This is sad. We are all different; let’s not conform at the peril of our selves. Share your ideas, sure, but don't shut them away.

I’m odd, I know, but I honestly believe that realities differ from person to person. Perhaps not significantly, but enough that we tend to mold matters for ourselves. It’s interesting to think and write about, at least. Thanks again, Emerson!