Ben Ames
Ben Ames
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read

This article inspired me to purchase Emerson’s book “Self Reliance”. I have been a fan of his poetry for years.

His essay on self reliance is powerful. I have to read it in pieces to gather its full flavor and ponder the implications of it.

In the U.S., what constitutes culture, education, healthcare, business, work and many other facets of life amounts to herding cattle in a profitable direction. Establishing a sense of sovereignty isn’t widely taught in the larger sense.

There were several times in Emerson’s life where he encountered difficulties such as the burning of the roof of his house and friends came in with the funding to rebuild the roof, and money to send him on a trip until it was complete. Similar other situations like this occurred in his life, and he was helped along by the good graces of others.

That sense of community was part of the great American culture in the 1800s. Much harder to find these days.

I guess they weren’t worried about draining their 401k or retirement savings.

I didn’t know Thoreau lived for room and board with Emerson and his family as a gardner, and later was given the land to build a cabin on Emerson’s property. I see it rarely these days.

I like the quotes you shared. This one hit home as well.

“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.”

Very well written article Harry, and all points well taken. We are facing many difficult issues these days with politics, the economy, healthcare, education, climate change and so on. It will not be the same old cultural conditioning that moves us through these challenges. It will take the sovereign spark of many coming together to build something more green, balanced, and power with.

If I had to recommend one article to read on Medium this month, it would be this one.

Thanks so much!

    Ben Ames

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    Ben Ames