Journal 21

• Journal #21: Write your reaction to the following Emerson quotation:

There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. (Emerson, "Self-Reliance")

I can not relate to to this because I am not a man. Therefore this blog does not pertain to me. However since you will probably poke my eye out I will write. Not because I am afraid of you but because I do not want to lose three points.
This quote means everyone has a problem or struggle in life. Everyone has a point when they break down and can not go on any longer. We all have that point were nothing goes right and we give up. I think this quote is saying we need to keep going and not let little things or stress keep us from great things. I also think its saying do not get carried away. When you are at the top you have to rememeber you started and you have to not be arrogent or ignorance. Emerson seems to get people and this quote is impressive. I think he understands human nature and gets both sides of people: those at the botttum and those at the top. Instead of saying man he should say people so both sexes can relate. I really hate when people say things to just one sex. Overall I think this is a really good quote and explains life in a good point of view.