transcendentalism

美国超验主义

美国超验主义也叫“新英格兰超验主义”或者说“美国文艺复兴”是美国的一种文学

和哲学运动。与拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生和玛格丽特·富勒有关，它宣称存在一种理想的

精神实体，超越于经验和科学之处，通过直觉得以把握。领导人是美国思想家、诗人

拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生。

美国超验主义（AmericanTranscendentalism）是美国的一个重要思潮，它兴起

于十九世纪三十年代的新英格兰地区，但波及其他地方，成为美国思想史上一次重要

的思想解放运动。它是与拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生以及梭罗相关的一种文学和哲学运动，

宣称存在一种理想的精神实体，超越于经验和科学之处，通过直觉得以把握。

一般认为，爱默生是超验主义的倡导者，他的散文，特别是他的演讲，令人感到

亲切，富有一种奇异的带有强烈个人色彩的声音；他的散文在端庄凝重的说教之中每

每流溢出特有的富有魅力的睿智、幽默感和文学、哲思的深度来。他的言词文本雄辩

有力而辉煌，语调变幻莫测，显示出他的深奥的文学技巧来。

1831年，爱默生辞去波士顿第二教堂的圣职到欧洲去旅游。其间，他会见了不

少当时的文学名人，诸如英国诗人、散文家瓦特·兰德（WalterSavageLandor），

诗人柯勒律治（SamuelTaylorColeridge），华兹华斯（WilliamWordsworth）和

苏格兰散文家、历史学家卡莱尔（ThomasCarlyle）。特别是他在苏格兰乡间会见了

卡莱尔之后，开始了两位文学家的终生友情和通信。

1837年，当爱默生作《美国学者》演讲时，另一名超验主义的集大成者梭罗刚

从哈佛大学毕业。对于很多人而言，梭罗是一本教科书，通过他，人们可以用自然界

发生的事实来理解世界，于是世界便成了一个供人阅读、品味、咀嚼的整体。他希冀

过简单的生活。

梭罗说过：“我之所以走进林间并不是想生活得便宜些或者更昂贵些，而是想以

最少的麻烦做些个人想做的事。”因此，他的文字细腻而自然，充满了一个敏感的作

家和一个深思熟虑的哲人对大自然的至诚的感受和感动。

比起爱默生的演说和写作，梭罗更多地是实践和行动，在他的性格中，那种崇尚

生命和自然、崇尚自由和独立的精神，和那种曾经在美国的开发，尤其是西部的开发

中表现出来的勇敢、豪迈、粗犷、野性的拓荒者精神存在某种内在的联系。

从现在的历史资料来看，人们无法了解梭罗是否亲自聆听爱默生的演讲，但梭罗

一生实践了爱默生在《美国学者》中的召唤：更多地关注美国本土，追求美国本土的

独创性。

作为一场融欧洲与美国思想潮流于一体的思想运动，它催生了美国散文一系列经

典之作：《自然》（Nature，1836）、《美国学者》（TheAmericanScholar，1837）、

《知识的自然历史》（NaturalHistoryofIntellect，1893）、《瓦尔登湖》（Waldon，

orLifeintheWoods，1854梭罗著），等等。

十九世纪的美国被一些历史学家认为是独特的美国文化诞生和成长的时期，是继

政治独立之后美国精神、文化从欧洲大陆的母体断乳而真正独立的时期。正是在这样

的特殊时代，以爱默森和梭罗等为代表的“超验主义”思潮“破空出世”，成为美国人的

精神独立宣言。

超验主义追求人的自由的精神成为美国文化中一个重要遗产。这种思潮发源于单

一神教，同时又接受了浪漫主义的影响，强调人与上帝间的直接交流和人性中的神性，

其结果是解放了人性，提高了人的地位，使人的自由成为可能。超验主义具有强烈的

批判精神，其社会目标是建立一个道德完满、真正民主自由的社会，尽管带有乌托邦

的理想色彩。

超验主义的核心观点是主张人能超越感觉和理性而直接认识真理，认为人类世界

的一切都是宇宙的一个缩影——“世界将其自身缩小成为一滴露水”（爱默生语）。它

强调万物本质上的统一，万物皆受“超灵”制约，而人类灵魂与“超灵”一致。这种对人

之神圣的肯定使超验主义者蔑视外部的权威与传统，依赖自己的直接经验。

超验主义的主要思想观点有三。首先，超验主义者强调精神，或超灵，认为这是

宇宙至为重要的存在因素。超灵是一种无所不容、无所不在、扬善抑恶的力量，是万

物之本、万物之所属，它存在于人和自然界内。其二，超验主义者强调个人的重要性。

他们认为个人是社会的最重要的组成部分，社会的革新只能通过个人的修养和完善才

能实现。因此人的首要责任就是自我完善，而不是刻意追求金玉富贵。理想的人是依

靠自己的人。其三，超验主义者以全新的目光看待自然，认为自然界是超灵或上帝的

象征。在他们看来，自然界不只是物质而已。它有生命，上帝的精神充溢其中，它是

超灵的外衣。因此，它对人的思想具有一种健康的滋补作用。超验主义主张回归自然，

接受它的影响，以在精神上成为完人。这种观点的自然内涵是，自然界万物具象征意

义，外部世界是精神世界的体现。

爱默生有句名言——“相信你自己”，这句话成为超验主义者的座右铭。这种超验

主义观点强调人的主观能动性，有助于打破加尔文教的“人性恶”、“命定论”等教条的

束缚，为热情奔放，抒发个性的美国式文化奠定了基础。

正因为爱默生的超验主义观点摒弃了加尔文教派神为中心的思想，认为在某种意

义上，“人”就上帝，才使得超验主义明显地烙上资本主义上升期的时代轰烈：“一个人

一定能够成为他想成为的人。”而这种素来被称为美国平民宗教的自立自强，激励了

美国民族精神的发展完善。

因此，超验主义者的贡献就在于在理想主义的旗帜下重新审视了“美”的哲学命题，

解放了美国思想，也使美国文学（包括散文创作）从模仿英国及欧洲大陆的风格中脱

颖而出，开创了美国文艺复兴时期。

其实，“超验主义”作为一种并不确切的戏称，也许只在认识论的意义上表现了这

一思潮的一个特征，即崇尚直觉和感受，而这一思潮的意义也许更重要地是体现在它

热爱自然，尊崇个性，号召行动和创造，反对权威和教条等具有人生哲学蕴涵的方面，

它对于美国精神和文化摆脱欧洲大陆的母体而形成自己崭新而独特的面貌产生了巨

大影响。

ntroduction

AmericanTranscendentalismor“NewEnglandTranscendentalism”or“Am

ericanRenaissance”(1836---1855)wasthefirstAmericanintellectualmovem

ent,whichexertedatremendousimpactontheconsciousnessofAmerican

enceBuellstates,“Toproclaimtranscendentalism’simpact,

however,iasierthantodefineit,forthemovementwasloolyorganize

danditsboundarieswereindistinct”.

NewEnglandTranscendentalismwas,inesnce,romanticidealismon

systemofthoughtthatoriginatedfromthreesources.

FirstWilliamElleryChanning(1780---1842)wasanAmericanUnitarianclerg

tarianismreprentedathoughtfulrevoltagainstorthodoxPurit

ianismbelievedGodasonebeing,rejectingthedoctrineoftrin

ity,stressingthetoleranceofdifferenceinreligiousopinion,andgivingeach

congregationthefreecontrolofitsownaffairsanditsindependentauthorit

ndly,theidealisticphilosophyfromFranceandGermanyexertedenormousi

y,orientalmysticismasrevealedinHi

ult,NewEnglandTranscendentalismblendednativeAmericantraditionwithf

oreigninfluences.

Dissatisfiedwiththematerialistic-orientedsocietyandeagertosavethe

soulwithadoctrineofthemind,someAmericanintellectualsweresoathir

stfornewideasthattheyformedaninformaldiscussinggroup,theTransce

ndentalClub,withsomethirtymenandwomenofBostonandConcordin1

restronglyinfluencedbythenewGermanidealismanddelight

tirregularlyoverthenextfouryearsat

RalphWaldoEmerson'shomeinConcordforthepurpoofdiscussingthe

ubwasthefirstandmostfamousofa

riesofforumsthatrvedduringthenextfewdecadesassocialgatheri

methemovement'1836to1835,t

s,the

l(1840-1844).

Theirmeetingsandtheirjournalpromotedthismovementandaddedpro

opleinterestedinthenewideasoftranscendentalism

rtoparatethem

lvesfromtheevilsociety,theymadetwocommunitarianexperimentsbye

Ripley(1802-1880)tuptheBrook

FarmonBoston'soutskirts,whichranfrom1841to1847withemphasison

farm,peoplesharedindomestican

dphysicallabor,sdeduc

a

tnovelistNathanielHawthorne(1806-1864)it

ythatadisastrousfireintheuninsuredmainbuildingputandendtothi

ondexperimentisFruitlands,nearHarvard,tupbyBr

onsonAlcott(1799-1888)farm,Alcottstresdtheabsolute

edlessthanayearbec

alsohelp

edtoorganizeandpresideovertheconcordSchoolofPhilosophy(1879-18

88),sthelastsignificantactivityoftranscendent

r,inthe1830sand1840s,transcendentalismwastreatedinne

wspapersandmagazinesassomethingbetweenanationallaughingstocka

ndaclearmenacetoorganizedreligion

oncepts

Theterm“transcendentalism”isderivedfromtheLatinverbtranscender

emeaning,toriabove,endentalismh

asbeendefinedastherecognitioninmanofthecapacityofacquiringkno

wledgetranscendingthereachofthefivens,orofknowingtruthintuiti

vely,e

aderofthismovement,RalphWaldoEmersoninterpretedtranscendentalism

as“whateverbelongstotheclassofintuitivethought,”andas“idealismas

itappearsin1842.”Hebelievedthatthetranscendentallawwasthe“moral

law”

emajorconceptsthataccompaniedtranscendentalismcanbesummarizedin

thefollowingsixpoints.

(1)Itstresdthepowerofintuition,believingthatpeoplecouldlearnt

hingsbothfromtheoutsideworldbymeansofthefivensandfromth

thingstheylearnedfromwithinweretruer

thanthethingstheylearnedfromwithout,th

ateveryonehadaccesstoasourceofknowledgethattranscendedtheever

ionwasinnerlightwithin.

(2)Asromanticidealism,e

vedthatbothspiritandmatterwererealbutthattherealityofspiritwasgr

transcendedmatter,andthepermanentreali

sdesncebehindappearance.

(3)ngsinnaturewere

symbolsofthespiritual,ofGod’wasalive,filledwithG

od’hingintheuniverwasviewedasane

physicalobjectswasauniversalsoul.

NaturewasGod’ore,itcould

wan

noblingandpeopleweresomehowbetterforbeingoutinthewoodsormea

noto

’s

thisorganicviewinmind,itstresdunityofhumanityandnature.

(4)Itemphasizedthesignificanceoftheindividualandbelievedthatthe

individualwasthemostimportantelementinsocietyandthattheidealkin

thattherewasagreatn

shoulddep

ndividualsoulcouldcom

munewithGod,itwas,therefore,eassumptionoftheinnate

goodnessofhumanity,itheldthattheindividualsoulcouldreachGodwitho

tressingindividuality,itrejectedth

nscendentalisthadanuncompro

misingconcernforindividual’smoraldevelopmentratherthanforsocialprog

nityoftheindividualremainsavitalpartofAmericancreedev

entoday.

(5)Emersonenvisionedreligionasanemotionalcommunicationbetween

anindividualsoulandtheuniversal“Oversoul”.The“Oversoul”ascalledb

yEmersonwasanall-pervadingunitaryspiritualpowerofgoodness,omnipr

entandomnipotent,fromwhichallthingscameandofwhicheveryonew

tedinnatureandinhumanityalikeandconstitutedthechi

lly,theOversoulreferredtospiritofGod

heOversoulwasasin

gleesnce,andsinceallpeoplederivedtheirbeingsfromthesamesourc

e,theemingdiversityandclashofhumaninterestswasonlysuperficial,

andallpeoplewereinrealitystrivingtowardthesameendsbydifferentbut

saffirmedtheuniversalbrotherhoodofhumanity,

dereachperson

strovetoexpresshisorherindividuality,themorefaithfullyheorshefollo

wedtheinnervoice,themoresurelywouldtheaimsofhisorherlifecoinc

idewiththoofhisorherneighbor.

(6)Itheldthatcommercewasdegradingandthatalifespentinbusine

tycouldbemuchbetteroffifpeoplepaidless

attentiontothematerialworldinwhichtheylived.

icance

Therefore,transcendentalismcanbebestunderstoodasasomewhatlat

eandlocalizedmanifestationofromanticmovementinliteratureandphiloso

umphofintuitionoverfivens,theexaltationoftheindividua

loversociety,thecriticalattitudetowardformalizedreligion,therejectionof

anykindofrestraintorbondagetocustom,thenewandthrillingdelightin

nature---allthewereinsomemeasurecharacteristicoftranscendentalis

deasalsoinspiredEnglishpoetsWordsworthandColeridgeasw

ulatedbyEmerson,transc

endentalismbecameaclarioncalltoaction,exhortingyoungpeopletocast

offtheirdeadeningenslavementtothepast,tofollowGodwithin,andtoli

veeverymomentoflifewithstrenuousness,toregardnatureasthegreato

bjectivelessonprovingGod’sprenceeverywhereinHiscreation.

Transcendentalismwasalsoanethicalguidetolifeforayoungnation

chedthepositivelifeandappealedtothebestsideofh

ore,itstresdthetoleranceofdifferenceinreligiouso

pinionandthefreecontrolofhisownaffairsbyeachcongregation,andcall

edtothrowoffshacklesofcustomandtradition,andtogoforwardtothe

stedontheess

entialworthanddignityoftheindividualasapowerfulforcefordemocracy.

Italsoadvocated,andpracticed,anidealismthatwasgreatlyneededina

rapidlyexpandedeconomywhereopportunitytoooftenbecamemereopport

unism,andthedesireto“geton”obscuredthemoralnecessityforrisingto

spiritualheight.

NewEnglandTranscendentalismisimportanttoAmericanliteratureatle

nehand,itisreprentedbytwomajorwriter

camemoversandshakers

whowritingshavehadmoreandmoreimpactwiththepassageoftime.

Sofarasthetwowritersareconcerned,theyweremoreenduringlyimpor

the

rhand,anewgroupofwritersundertheinfluenceofEmersonandThoreau

allthewriterso

wthorne,Melville,Lowell,Dickinson,andWhitmanwereallexponentsoftran

eatedoneofthemostprolific

periodsinthehistoryofAmericanliterature.

ss

Thetranscendentalistmovementhadasmallmembershipandonlylaste

dforafewyears,p

ass,theterm“Transcendentalism”haslostitsderogatorynandbeco

methecondensationofAmericanromanticmovementinliteratureoftheper

endentalism,however,wasnevera

owedfrommanysourcesandreconciledfewo

erthedemandoflogicbecametooinsistent,itturnedtomy

mearationaleforthepressuretowardexpansionismthatwa

salreadyturningpeople’ltedfar

moreofteninrampantindividualismthaninademocracyofmutualhelpfuln

ialoftherealityofeviltendedtomake

lureoftranscendentalismas

pleudittojustifytheiracquisitivenessandleftituptotheprincipleofc

reitsweakness.

Self-Reliance(1841)

RalphWaldoEmerson

RalphWaldoEmerson(1803-1882)wasdemocracy'spoetandthecentral

figureintheTranscendentalmovementthatinvigoratedAmerican

endentalism

defined"reason"asthehighesthumanfaculty,theindividual'sinnate

capacitytograspbeautyandtruthbyallowingfullplaytotheintellect

ementemergedfromasmallgroupofintellectuals

centeredinConcord,Massachutts,andEmersonprovednotonlyits

intellectualleaderbutitsmosteloquentvoiceaswell.

TrainedasaUnitarianminister,Emersonleftthechurchin1832todevote

himlftowritingandteachingandfosteringauniqueAmericanphilosophy.

In"TheAmericanScholar"(1837),hecalleduponhiscountrymentoachieve

anintellectualindependencefromEuropetocomplementthepolitical

yClayhadcommented,"We

looktoomuchabroad....LetusbecomerealandtrueAmericans."In

hisaddresstoHarvard,Emersonasked,"Whyshouldnotwehaveapoetry

andphilosophyofinsightandnotoftraditionandareligionbyrevelation

tous?Letusdemandourownworksandlawsandworship."OliverWendell

Holmescalledthespeech"OurintellectualDeclarationofIndependence."

Inhispoetryandessays,Emersoncelebratedthediversityandfreedom

hefoundinAmericanlife,andhedemandedthathisfellowcitizensbe

worthyoftheirfreedombydaringtobeindependentintheirindividual

,hismostfamoussay,hedeclaredthat"Nothingissacred

buttheintegrityofyourownmind."Thequestforlf-reliancewasreally

aarchforharmonyintheuniver,whichcouldonlybeachievedbyeach

n

scandalizedpropersocietybyhisattacksonorganizedreligion,which

hebelievedstifledthesoul;forhim,thedivinityofeachpersonlay

ere,

henoted,theidealistcouldbemisunderstood.

OriginallyEmersoneschewedthe"real"worldforhisbelovedideas.

Althoughheoppodslavery,heavoidedforaslongaspossibletheradical

nhe

believedthathishero,DanielWebster,hadbetrayedpublictrustby

supportingtheFugitiveSlaveLawof1850,Emersonattackedhimpublicly.

Inthenextdecade,hehelpedhiderunawayslavesandspokeoutopenly

fortheabolitionistcau.

Forfurtherreading:GayWilsonAllen,WaldoEmerson(1981);StephenE.

Whicher,FreedomandFate:AnInnerLifeofRalphWaldoEmerson(1953);

dJoelMyerson,eds.,CriticalEssaysonAmerican

Transcendentalism(1982).

Self-Reliance

Netequaesiverixtra.

Manishisownstar;andthesoulthatcanRenderanhonestandaperfect

manCommandsalllight,allinfluence,allfate;Nothingtohimfallarly

sourangelsare,orgoodorill,Ourfatalshadows

thatwalkbyusstill.--EpiloguetoBeaumontandFletcher'sHonestMan's

Fortune

Castthebantlingontherocks,Sucklehimwiththeshe-wolf'steat,

Winteredwiththehawkandfox,Powerandspeedbehandsandfeet.

Ireadtheotherdaysomeverswrittenbyaneminentpainterwhichwere

lalwayshearsanadmonitioninsuch

lines,timenttheyinstillisof

eveyourownthought,

tobelievethatwhatistrueforyouinyourprivateheartistruefor

allmen,--ourlatentconviction,anditshallbe

theuniversaln;fortheinmostinduetimebecomestheoutmost,and

ourfirstthoughtisrenderedbacktousbythetrumpetsoftheLast

arasthevoiceofthemindistoeach,thehighestmerit

weascribetoMos,Plato,andMiltonisthattheytatnaughtbooks

andtraditions,andspokenotwhatmen,ould

learntodetectandwatchthatgleamoflightwhichflashesacrosshis

mindfromwithin,morethanthelustreofthefirmamentofbardsandsages.

Yethedismisswithoutnoticehisthought,y

workofgeniuswerecognizeourownrejectedthoughts;theycomebackto

orksofarthavenomore

achustoabidebyour

spontaneousimpressionwithgood-humoredinflexibilitythanmostwhenthe

-morrowastrangerwill

saywithmasterlygoodnprecilywhatwehavethoughtandfeltall

thetime,andweshallbeforcedtotakewithshameourownopinionfrom

another.

Thereisatimeineveryman'ducationwhenhearrivesattheconviction

thatenvyisignorance;thatimitationissuicide;thathemusttake

himlfforbetterforworashisportion;thatthoughthewideuniver

isfullofgood,nokernelofnourishingcorncancometohimbutthrough

histoilbestowedonthatplotofgroundwhichisgiventohimtotill.

Thepowerwhichresidesinhimisnewinnature,andnonebutheknows

whatthatiswhichhecando,

fornothingoneface,onecharacter,onefact,makesmuchimpressionon

him,ulptureinthememoryisnotwithout

preëwasplacedwhereonerayshouldfall,

alfexpressourlves,

besafelytrustedasproportionateandofgoodissues,soitbefaithfully

imparted,

isrelievedandgaywhenhehasputhisheartintohisworkanddonehis

best;

ttempthisgeniusderts

him;nomubefriends;noinvention,nohope.

Trustthylf:theplace

thedivineprovidencehasfoundforyou,thesocietyofyour

contemporaries,enhavealwaysdoneso,

andconfidedthemlveschildliketothegeniusoftheirage,betraying

theirperceptionthattheabsolutelytrustworthywasatedattheirheart,

workingthroughtheirhands,re

nowmen,andmustacceptinthehighestmindthesametranscendentdestiny;

andnotminorsandinvalidsinaprotectedcorner,notcowardsfleeing

beforearevolution,butguides,redeemers,andbenefactors,obeyingthe

AlmightyeffortandadvancingonChaosandtheDark.

Whatprettyoraclesnatureyieldsusonthistextinthefaceandbehavior

ofchildren,babes,andevenbrutes!Thatdividedandrebelmind,that

distrustofantimentbecauourarithmetichascomputedthestrength

andmeansoppodtoourpurpo,indbeingwhole,

theireyeisasyetunconquered,andwhenwelookintheirfacesweare

yconformstonobody;allconformtoit;sothatone

babecommonlymakesfourorfiveoutoftheadultswhoprattleandplay

asarmedyouthandpubertyandmanhoodnolesswithits

ownpiquancyandcharm,andmadeitenviableandgraciousanditsclaims

nottobeputby,hinktheyouthhas

noforce,!inthenextroom

sheknowshowto

lorboldthen,hewillknowhowto

makeusniorsveryunnecessary.

Thenonchalanceofboyswhoaresureofadinner,andwoulddisdainas

muchasalordtodoorsayaughttoconciliateone,isthehealthyattitude

intheparlorwhatthepitisintheplayhou;

independent,irresponsible,lookingoutfromhiscorneronsuchpeople

andfactsaspassby,hetriesandntencesthemontheirmerits,inthe

swift,summarywayofboys,asgood,bad,interesting,silly,eloquent,

ershimlfneveraboutconquences,aboutinterests;

hegivesanindependent,tcourthim;hedoesnot

manisasitwereclappedintojailbyhisconsciousness.

Assoonashehasonceactedorspokenwithéclatheisacommitted

person,watchedbythesympathyorthehatredofhundreds,who

snoLetheforthis.

Ah,thathecouldpassagainintohisneutrality!Whocanthusavoidall

pledgesand,havingobrved,obrveagainfromthesameunaffected,

unbiad,unbribable,unaffrightedinnocence,--mustalwaysbeformidable.

Hewouldutteropinionsonallpassingaffairs,whichbeingentobe

notprivatebutnecessary,wouldsinklikedartsintotheearofmenand

puttheminfear.

Thearethevoiceswhichwehearinsolitude,buttheygrowfaintand

yeverywhereisinconspiracy

yisajoint-stock

company,inwhichthemembersagree,forthebettercuringofhisbread

toeachshareholder,tosurrenderthelibertyandcultureoftheeater.

-relianceisitsaversion.

Itlovesnotrealitiesandcreators,butnamesandcustoms.

Whosowouldbeaman,ouldgatherimmortal

palmsmustnotbehinderedbythenameofgoodness,butmustexploreif

gisatlastsacredbuttheintegrityofyourown

eyoutoyourlf,andyoushallhavethesuffrageoftheworld.

IrememberananswerwhichwhenquiteyoungIwaspromptedtomaketoa

valuedadvirwhowaswonttoimportunemewiththedearolddoctrines

ying,"WhathaveItodowiththesacrednessof

traditions,ifIlivewhollyfromwithin?"myfriendsuggested,--"But

theimpulsmaybefrombelow,notfromabove."Ireplied,"Theydo

notemtometobesuch;butifIamtheDevil'schild,Iwilllivethen

fromtheDevil."

andbadarebutnamesveryreadilytransferabletothatorthis;theonly

rightiswhatisaftermyconstitution;theonlywrongwhatisagainst

tocarryhimlfintheprenceofalloppositionasifevery

amedtothinkhoweasily

wecapitulatetobadgesandnames,tolargesocietiesanddead

ecentandwell-spokenindividualaffectsandsways

togouprightandvital,andspeaktherude

ceandvanitywearthecoatofphilanthropy,

shallthatpass?Ifanangrybigotassumesthisbountifulcauof

Abolition,andcomestomewithhislastnewsfromBarbadoes,whyshould

Inotsaytohim,"Golovethyinfant;lovethywood-chopper;be

good-naturedandmodest;havethatgrace;andnevervarnishyourhard,

uncharitableambitionwiththisincredibletendernessforblackfolka

eafarisspiteathome."Roughandgraceless

wouldbesuchgreeting,buttruthishandsomerthantheaffectationof

odnessmusthavesomeedgetoit,--

doctrineofhatredmustbepreached,asthecounteractionofthedoctrine

oflove,atherandmotherandwife

writeonthelintelsofthe

door-post,tissomewhatbetterthanwhimatlast,butwe

menottoshowcauwhyI

ain,donottellme,asagoodman

didto-day,

theymypoor?Itellthee,thoufoolishphilanthropist,thatIgrudgethe

dollar,thedime,thecentIgivetosuchmenasdonotbelongtomeand

saclassofpersonstowhombyallspiritual

affinityIamboughtandsold;forthemIwillgotoprisonifneedbe;

butyourmiscellaneouspopularcharities;theeducationatcollegeof

fools;thebuildingofmeeting-houstothevainendtowhichmanynow

stand;almstosots,andthethousand-foldReliefSocieties;--thoughI

confesswithshameIsometimessuccumbandgivethedollar,itisawicked

dollar,whichbyandbyIshallhavethemanhoodtowithhold.

Virtuesare,inthepopularestimate,rathertheexceptionthantherule.

hatiscalledagoodaction,

assomepieceofcourageorcharity,muchastheywouldpayafinein

orksaredoneasan

apologyorextenuationoftheirlivingintheworld,--asinvalidsandthe

wishto

expiate,isforitlfandnotforaspectacle.I

muchpreferthatitshouldbeofalowerstrain,soitbegenuineandequal,

ttobesoundand

sweet,imaryevidencethatyou

areaman,hat

formylfitmakesnodifferencewhetherIdoorforbearthoactions

tconnttopayforaprivilegewhere

meanasmygiftsmaybe,Iactuallyam,

anddonotneedformyownassuranceortheassuranceofmyfellowsany

condarytestimony.

WhatImustdoisallthatconcernsme,

rule,equallyarduousinactualandinintellectuallife,mayrvefor

eharder

becauyouwillalwaysfindthowhothinktheyknowwhatisyourduty

syintheworldtoliveaftertheworld's

opinion;itiasyinsolitudetoliveafterourown;butthegreatman

ishewhointhemidstofthecrowdkeepswithperfectsweetnessthe

independenceofsolitude.

Theobjectiontoconformingtousagesthathavebecomedeadtoyouisthat

syourtimeandblurstheimpressionof

aintainadeadchurch,contributetoadead

Bible-society,votewithagreatpartyeitherforthegovernmentor

againstit,spreadyourtablelikebahoukeepers,--underallthe

screensIhavedifficultytodetecttheprecimanyouare:andofcour

ourwork,and

work,

mustconsiderwhatablind-man'

preacherannouncefor

histextandtopictheexpediencyofoneoftheinstitutionsofhischurch.

DoInotknowbeforehandthatnotpossiblycanhesayanewspontaneous

word?DoInotknowthatwithallthisostentationofexaminingthegrounds

oftheinstitutionhewilldonosuchthing?DoInotknowthatheispledged

tohimlfnottolookbutatoneside,thepermittedside,notasaman,

butasaparishminister?Heisaretainedattorney,andtheairsof

,mostmenhaveboundtheir

eyeswithoneoranotherhandkerchief,andattachedthemlvestosome

nformitymakesthemnotfal

inafewparticulars,authorsofafewlies,butfalinallparticulars.

woisnottherealtwo,their

fournottherealfour;sothateverywordtheysaychagrinsusandwe

menatureisnotslow

towearonecutoffaceandfigure,andacquirebydegreesthegentlest

samortifyingexperienceinparticular,which

doesnotfailtowreakitlfalsointhegeneralhistory;Imean"the

foolishfaceofprai,"theforcedsmilewhichweputonincompanywhere

wedonotfeelatea,inanswertoconversationwhichdoesnotinterest

cles,notspontaneouslymovedbutmovedbyalowusurping

wilfulness,growtightabouttheoutlineoftheface,withthemost

disagreeablensation.

refore

-standerslookaskance

onhiminthepublicstreetorinthefriend'aversion

haditsoriginincontemptandresistancelikehisownhemightwellgo

homewithasadcountenance;butthesourfacesofthemultitude,like

theirsweetfaces,havenodeepcau,butareputonandoffasthewind

hediscontentofthemultitudemore

syenoughfor

afirmmanwhoknowstheworldtobrooktherageofthecultivatedclass.

Theirrageisdecorousandprudent,fortheyaretimid,asbeingvery

ntotheirfeminineragetheindignation

ofthepeopleisadded,whentheignorantandthepoorarearoud,when

theunintelligentbruteforcethatliesatthebottomofsocietyismade

togrowlandmow,itneedsthehabitofmagnanimityandreligiontotreat

itgodlikeasatrifleofnoconcernment.

Theotherterrorthatscaresusfromlf-trustisourconsistency;a

reverenceforourpastactorwordbecautheeyesofothershavenoother

dataforcomputingourorbitthanourpastacts,andweareloathto

disappointthem.

Butwhyshouldyoukeepyourheadoveryourshoulder?Whydragaboutthis

corpofyourmemory,lestyoucontradictsomewhatyouhavestatedin

thisorthatpublicplace?Suppoyoushouldcontradictyourlf;what

then?Itemstobearuleofwisdomnevertorelyonyourmemoryalone,

scarcelyeveninactsofpurememory,buttobringthepastforjudgment

intothethousand-eyedprent,

metaphysicsyouhavedeniedpersonalitytotheDeity,yetwhenthedevout

motionsofthesoulcome,yieldtothemheartandlifethoughtheyshould

ourtheory,asJophhiscoat

inthehandoftheharlot,andflee.

Afoolishconsistencyisthehobgoblinoflittleminds,adoredbylittle

nsistencyagreatsoulhas

swellconcernhimlfwithhisshadowon

hatyouthinknowinhardwordsandto-morrowspeakwhat

to-morrowthinksinhardwordsagain,thoughitcontradicteverything

yousaidto-day.--"Ah,soyoushallbesuretobemisunderstood."--Isit

sobadthentobemisunderstood?Pythagoraswasmisunderstood,and

Socrates,andJesus,andLuther,andCopernicus,andGalileo,andNewton,

eatisto

bemisunderstood....

Source:TheCompleteEssaysandOtherWritingsofRalphWaldoEmerson

(BrooksAtkinson,ed.,1940),145-52.