ciples and philosophical points emphasized in this work. The famous quote that intrigues me the most and helps to establish what Emerson thought's represents is, "To be great is to be misunderstood"(Emerson 1137). The continuous timelessness of this quote is as much in effect today as it was when the essay was first published. He used it to explain the growth of conceptions and ideas in his generation; yet powerful political figures and individuals who failed to see the reality of it criticized the acceptance of his concept. Society during Emerson's time resisted reform and scorned the reformer, therefore making it difficult for them to accept Emerson's point. Just because they could not comprehend the person's choice to go against society's norms and open up to his or her own sense of individuality, this did not mean that that individual was an outcast and deserved any less respect than any other human being. To these conservatives the easiest and most effective way to learn was through memorization and the repetition of facts that had been recorded in the past by generations before them. Emerson's quote demonstrates the lack of acceptance by society to new thoughts and theories during his time.
             What's more, he acknowledged that each individual has the potential to be something great. He advocated expressing our individuality and uniqueness to set ourselves apart from the crowd. He stressed that we should not be followers, like chickens without a head, but should take the initiative in making our own choices. For example, one of Emerson's most profound analysis is the following: "There is time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance and that imitation is suicide"(1127). He shows us that we need not be constantly looking at what others have and comparing it to our own possessions. Emerson alludes to the misconceptio...