The sublime is excited in me by the great stoical doctrine, Obey thyself.
Meaning
In the Divinity College Address, Emerson praised the Stoic idea of trusting your own conscience over inherited opinion. Valuing yourself means listening to your own judgment. Before your next decision, pause and ask what you truly think, then weigh other opinions after, not before.
Source: Divinity College Address (1838)
About the author
(1803–1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and philosopher who led the transcendentalist movement. His essays, including "Self-Reliance," emphasize individuality, nature, and spiritual independence. Emerson’s ideas influenced literature, philosophy, and social reform. He encouraged people to trust their instincts and seek truth within themselves. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s legacy continues to inspire personal growth and intellectual exploration.
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