"What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what the people think."
This quote is so simple, and straightforward. Emerson didn't use any elaborate words, or try and make it a mind twister that we have to analyze and come up with crazy parallels for it to make sense. And that is why I like this quote. And that is why I choose it. Out of all the knowledgeable and thought-provoking quotes he provided us with, this one is my favorite.
It seems so simple. To do what concerns you and not to worry what people think...but it is much easier said than done and I am almost 100 percent sure that anyone reading this can attest. We all strive to be that person that doesn't care what any one else is thinking, and who isn't worried about what they look like, or what they are doing, or what kind of impression they are leaving. But the truth is, I think for almost everyone out there, no matter how hard we try not to concern ourselves with what other people think, we're still worried about it.
I think Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the very few people, who wasn't concerned and caught up in what other people were thinking of him. He left behind hundreds of pages of his own thoughts, for other people to read and criticize, and honestly, I don't think he could care less of what other people thought about his writings. One of his quotes that perfectly exemplifies this is, "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." Emerson had a passion. His passion was to write what he thought, and to end up getting some people that loved him, and also getting some that hated him and thought he was wrong. But he was happy with his work, and to him that was the only thing that mattered.
The concept of doing what I want, and not what other people want is thought-provoking to me. How many times in my life have i been truly proud of something i accomplished? Certainly more than I can count on one hand, but when I think back about those times, all those times when I was truly happy about what i had accomplished, they were times when i did something just for the sake of doing it, and doing it for me, and no body else.
So ultimately, I think thats what Emerson is trying to say. That we should only do what concerns us, not what concerns other people, and we should do it for our own happiness, not necessarily to please other people.
4 comments:
First off, I'd like to say I love the color of your blog! (it's so happy)
Also, I really like what you pointed out in your self reliance post. You materialized the struggle within each individual to respond to the world's messages or living to please others, or according to the "integrity of your own mind."
I also love how you pointed out Emerson's reckless abandonment of all societal limitation, as well as his unapologetic decision to live on his own behalf.
I think what makes this post though is the fact you bring it personal. You admit that every person, including yourself, wrestles with these decisions of how to live. But ultimately you prove that living for the sake of our own happiness- and not for the superficial approval of others- is hoe we ought to direct our actions.
I really loved reading this, your writing is so clear yet poignant! (p.s. i loved how you used the word attest! :) )
Liza-
I agree completely with your blog but I especially like your point that this quote is so straightforward and simple. Its easy to understand yet hard to follow completely. We go through life worrying too much about how others perceive our actions. The "concerns me" part doesn't mean we won't take into account others, but it means that we do not do things with the search for approval for others. Emerson himself was a follower of this quote. He wrote things that many others probably did not agree with but he did it anyway. And now what? He has thousands of followers and he is known worldwide for his thought-provoking ideas.
Liza, this entry really brought some thought provoking ideas. I really enjoyed how you attributed your thoughts to various times in your life, and how you showed that this specific quote had shown itself in various accomplishments. The most interesting part about your entry, is how you bring up the idea that Emerson's ideas are reflected in his writing, and he too would not put up false barriers when he faced society.
Your ideas are correct about how the nature of this quote is simple, and yet it can really be universal, if people are willing to give up certain prejudices, and stick to "the integrity of [their] own minds."
I also really enjoyed the part when you said that your only true accomplishments were ones that you were doing for yourself, and not doing to please another party. It is important in life nowadays to live for ourselves, and not get buried under all of our homework, and stress and life. That true joy and gratitude comes when people rely on themselves for inner strength and the will to accomplish great things.
LIZA!!!
Great Job! i chose the same quote as well. What you said about it bieng so straightforward says it all because it is pretty self-explanitory. I mean just worry about what you think because in reality other people's opinions do not matter as far as I am concerned. Great entry :)
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