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“Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.”
Emerson argues that mature character requires enough independence to resist conformity when conviction points elsewhere.
Source note: Self-Reliance, in the section urging trust in one’s own judgment.
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“I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.”
The exuberant image celebrates unapologetic self-expression and a voice that refuses to become small merely to fit social expectations.
Source note: Near the close of “Song of Myself”; Whitman turns self-expression into a large, physical cry.
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“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”
Emerson attacks rigid consistency when it prevents people from revising judgment in the light of new thought.
Source note: Essay “Self-Reliance”; Emerson criticizes rigid adherence to past opinions when fresh judgment requires revision.
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“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
The line makes self-trust a prerequisite for independent thought and action.
Source note: Essay “Self-Reliance.”
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“My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place.”
Resistance restored a sense of personhood and self-command, marking a psychological turning point even before Douglass obtained legal freedom.
Source note: Narrative, Chapter X; the line follows Douglass’s physical resistance to Edward Covey and precedes his resolve never again to be a slave in fact.
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“I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live.”
Voice: Dialogue speaker · Socrates
Preserving truthful speech and character is valued above survival purchased by abandoning one’s principles merely to satisfy an audience.
Source note: Apology, Jowett translation; Socrates rejects saving himself through a style of pleading he considers unworthy.