Bertrand, The Duty of Being Human

Ralph Waldo Emerson essay on Self-Reliance directly reflects Henry Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. Emerson focuses on human thought and how by merely thinking as an individual can alter the course of the world. Thoreau focuses on the necessity for people to question the laws that society imposes; to essentially think for oneself. The difference between the two is that Emerson's Self-Reliance focuses on non-action as being a key factor. Emerson says, "My life is for itself, not a spectacle", yet he focuses on being non-apologetic for any actions; because it means that one is not being true to themselves. His definition of being true to oneself, is merely thinking for oneself. This idea is one of results coming from inaction: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself". Thoreau does put a form of Emerson's ideals into an active frame. His basis is that one must think for themselves, but must also, rebel against the unjust. The unjust that Thoreau speaks of is typically the majority, therefore, he is ordering for the minority to rise against the unjust rules which the majority instates. According to Thoreau an example of speaking up is rebellion and not following laws; Thoreau says, "All men recognize the right of Revolution". In every section, he speaks of rebellion and revolution as being the main factors in living a just life, while Emerson believes that being inward would accomplish this same goal. Therefore, although Emerson and Thoreau's goals are the same, their means to accomplish this goal is different; Emerson preaches inaction, while Thoreau necessitates action. Thus Civil Disobedience does not put Emerson's goals into action, nor does Self-Reliance put Thoreau's goals into peaceful perspective; both works merely list different media to reach the same goal: bettering the life of man. So, one can not allude one to the other because they are strikingly different.