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Meaning
This reads as a defense of integrity in a corrupt or shallow world. Emerson points to the cost of honest friendship and plain speaking when the surrounding culture rewards compromise, and even suggests that seeming out of step can be a sane response. It lands for anyone who has felt pressured to smooth over what they really think in order to fit in.
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Historical Context
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
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About Ralph Waldo Emerson
American essayist and poet of the 19th century, Emerson is best known for his transcendentalist philosophy and influential lectures on self-reliance and individualism. His works, including "Self-Reliance" and "Nature," championed intuition, personal experience, and the inherent goodness of humanity.
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Friendship: more sayings
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READ THE SOURCE
Books by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Essays: First Series
Includes Self-Reliance.