Address to the Senior Class in Divinity College, Cambridge (1838)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

You will hear every day the maxims of a low prudence. You will hear, that the first duty is to get land and money, place and name. 'What is this Truth you seek? What is this Beauty?' men will ask, with derision. If, nevertheless, God have called any of you to explore truth and beauty, be bold, be firm, be true. When you shall say, 'As others do, so will I: I renounce, I am sorry for it, I have lost my liberty,' you may be sure you have lost your way. Keep your independence, and do not mix yourself with the crowd.

Emerson warns that conformity to societal norms often crushes the spirit of originality and inquiry. In 1838, when he spoke these words to future ministers at Harvard, American society was rapidly industrializing, valuing economic success over intellectual pursuits. Emerson implores his audience to resist the pressure to conform, urging them to remain true to their intellectual and creative pursuits. The "crisis" he speaks of is not a single moment but the ongoing battle between societal expectations and individual potential.

View full source