In Emerson's essay, "Self-Reliance" individualism and independence go hand-in-

hand. In this powerful piece, the author challenges us all to be persons of

conscience.

Regarding independence, Emerson advises people to have faith in their own

thoughts, as other great men have done: Moses, Plato and Milton. These men didn't
worry about books, traditions or the opinions of others. Some people miss their own
genius, discounting it because it is their own. However, his rejected thoughts may
be seen again in the wisdom of others:

In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they

come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.

The author goes on to speak of individualisma man must realize that individuality
is of the utmost importance. To want to be like someone else is disastrous:

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction

that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide.

Nothing of importance can come to a person if borrowed from someone else, but
only through things that are unique to him. Not being yourself will rob you of inner-
peace. So Emerson reminds us:

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Emerson points out that young men don't suffer from self-doubt. With the
impulsiveness of youth, the young man makes his decisions swiftly and doesn't
worry about them. It is the way of the young, but men are not so independent. As
soon as he makes up his mind, it is as if a man is imprisoned because of concerns
over what others will think.

That which is truly valuable in the world, writes Emerson, comes from within.

Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist...Nothing is at last

sacred but the integrity of our own mind.

Emerson insists that he must be true to his nature. Things are often labeled as good
or bad, but should be based only on what our own conscience tells us. This echoes
Shakespeare's Hamlet says, "...there is nothing either good or / bad, but thinking
makes it so." (II.ii.250-251) The essayist offers that we must be "true to ourselves."

No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but
names very readily transferable to that or this...

Individualism and independence, Emerson explains, are things we must take for
ourselves, not what we should expect from others. He warns that to be unique won't
be easy.
 For non-conformity the world whips you with its displeasure.

He explains that another thing that keeps us from our independent thought is a fear
to change our minds.

The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency...

If you believe something today and change your mind later, you should not worry
about it. It is more foolish to stick to the old thought only to please others. Emerson
expects us not to speak foolishly but with the conviction of reason and conscience.
By changing our minds, people might misunderstand us, but we would then be in
good company.

...if you would be a man speak what you think to-day in words as hard
as cannon balls, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard
words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. Ah,
then...you shall be sure to be misunderstood! Misunderstood! ...Is it so
bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and
Socrates, and Jesus...and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh.
To be great is to be misunderstood.

Emerson commands that to be his own person and unique, one must never fear
what others think.