The section that I found the most compelling of Emerson's was the last one that began "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...". I thought that Emerson was trying to state that even if people may think it is wrong, or people won't approve of it we need to say and show what is on our minds. Being consistent in one's beliefs is important to being yourself. If I am not true to my convictions and beliefs then I am doing myself no good. According to Emerson, in order to be myself, I must run the risk that I am 'misunderstood', for if I am misunderstood then I have been true to myself. That alone speaks volumes. I think that in order to be great we must not think about what others think of us, or let their opinions reflect what they want us to be, or what we "should" be.
I believe Yang plays on this aspect of thinking a little bit too. On page 20 for example: after being thrown out the monkey king enters his chamber and smells monkey fur. He had never noticed it before, yet he does after having been ostracized from all the others. He then sits and thinks of how to get rid of the smell. Had he taken this slight against him in a positive way, he wouldn't think the smell of the fur was a bad thing, just a part of who he is. By pondering how he is going to get rid of it, he is fueling the fire that the others have started. By not speaking up and standing for what he felt he, in a sense, gave in and let the others' views get the best of him. Although Yang and Emerson were not saying the exact thing in that example, it does show how Emerson's idea works, if taken in a positive direction.
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4 comments:
I completely agree!! It is SO important to be yourself and no one else! We shouldn't act a certain way just because we think that's how people want to see us! Very good thoughts!
I agree as well! Nice blog.
p.s. I really like your main picture!
somewhere it was said-other than a song,"to thine own self be true" it isn't always easy-but it is always best.
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