1. TRANSCENDENTALISM
Part One

2. “Self Reliance”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. “Self Reliance”
Each person must ultimately rely on himself or herself.
Nothing good comes from envy or imitating someone else.
A person can only profit from his or her own work
One must accept one’s unique place in the world…

4. “Self Reliance”
One must have faith that God is working through oneself in a unique way.
One’s own impulses must be honored as if they came from God; following your nature is crucial in order to be a self-reliant individual.

5. “Self Reliance”
It is easy to live by your own ideas when alone and to conform when you are with others.
A great person refuses to conform even in a crowd.
“ For nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure.” (366)

6. “Self Reliance”
Consistency scares us from trusting ourselves because inconsistency exposes us to criticism from others.

7. “Civil Disobedience”
Henry David Thoreau

8. “Civil Disobedience”
Thoreau begins by making a strong and potentially radical statement about government.
Government should be a tool for carrying out the will of the people.
It should not be used to abuse power or authority.

9. “Civil Disobedience”
Thoreau opposes abolishing government immediately; he favors improving government immediately.
For Thoreau, individual conscience is of greater importance than majority rule.

10. “Civil Disobedience”
Americans were in the midst of fighting a controversial war with Mexico, making Thoreau’s comments greatly divisive.
Argues that people can become “agents of injustice” by upholding morally wrong laws.
Thoreau approves of those who serve with their conscience.

11. “Civil Disobedience”
Taxes represent the agency of an unfair government.
Truth holds power.
People should not be afraid to stop supporting a government that is unjust.
People should use their whole influence to fight for change.

12. “Civil Disobedience”
If people experience injustice themselves, it will only make them more effective as protesters.
A jailed person with a clear conscience is freer than someone blindly serving an unjust system.

13. Walden
Henry David Thoreau

14. Walden
Thoreau begins with a meditation on the place where the first shots of the revolution were fired.
His rebellious and independent spirit is in keeping with the spirit of the American Revolutionaries.

15. Walden
Thoreau moves to the woods to live simply and deliberately; to experience the essence of life.
Thoreau’s remedy for our hectic, detail-crowded lives is to simplify.
Eliminate unnecessary activities.

16. Walden
Extended Metaphor: Thoreau likens civilized life to a rough sea.
Every day demands might cause one to overlook the meaning of life.

17. Walden
Thoreau exaggerates the importance the average person gives to the daily news.
“Penny for your thoughts…”
The offer is never taken literally.
The Penny-post.
Thoreau wants to spend his time figuring out the “secret of things.”