Emerson's "Self Reliance"

There are many themes that are still relevant today. Self-reliance is usually something that is topical when talking about government influence on people. Emerson emphasized the role and cultivation of the individual, whom he believed should avoid conformity and false consistency (i.e., consistency with our past actions and beliefs if they no longer fit the needs or desires of the present), and instead pursue his/her own instincts and ideas, to be self-reliant, even at the cost of being misunderstood by society.