Here are some of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson's “The Essay On Self-Reliance”. Emerson was a very famous American author and lecturer in the 1800s. He led the transcendentalist movement in the mid-19th century in the United States. He was a staunch individualist and antagonist against collectivism. These quotes are very prescient today.
Without further adieu, here are my favorite quotes:
Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of it's members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.
This is a full frontal attack on collectivism. Everyone must conform to the rules of the collective. Self-reliance must not be tolerated for the better of the whole group. Nailed it!
When private men shall act with original views, the lustre will be transferred from the actions of kings to those of gentlemen.
Think for yourself and you will shine above kings. Following the collective just makes you a serf.
It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
So true! It is so easy to just go along with the collective. Most of the time it is comfy, too. Be yourself and be great!
I cannot consent to pay for a privilege where I have an intrinsic right.
Who doesn't feel this one? The collective loves to nickel and dime us to death making us pay for licenses and government papers purporting to give us our liberties. And if you object, the collective will deal with you. Hogwash!!!
Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.
Otherwise you are simply a part of the collective. When I read this quote I like to include “or woman” after “man”. Basically it's saying whomever would be real, must not conform. Beautiful, isn't it?
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.
Nothing is more important than having your own mind and being confident in your thinking. It doesn't matter what others think in their mind. You are valuable when you value you.
Everyone have a great day in your individuality.
For your reading pleasure you can read the whole essay at https://archive.org/stream/selfrelianceessay00emerrich#page/n7/mode/2up.