First Impression: On Self-Reliance

"Our acts our angels are, or good or ill"

emerson gives us insight that we should not "look outside ourselves"

-what emerson is telling us is that it is more ancient and goes deeper with our inner being 
-starts off sounding arrogant/egotistical
the belief that is genius-- not the actual thought

-emerson is telling us that we have an inside voice

Moses, Plato, Milton -thought for themselves

"envy is ignorance"
"imitation is suicide"

toil- work
-the only captain of your learning, is you
whatever happens is a function of what you do

My first impression with the essay "On Self-Reliance" is that it was somewhat motivational. What I took away from the essay is that your beliefs is what makes you as an individual. Emerson is telling us that we have an inside voice that goes deeper within our inner being. There are instances where we don't speak out our thoughts, but there will always be people who share the same ideas. Examples given of characters/people who thought for themselves are Moses, Plato and Milton.