Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
August 1, 1841
Plain Speaker
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Emerson observes the weaknesses of modern society, where people are timid, fearful of truth, fortune, death, and each other, lacking great individuals to renovate life; society dictates choices in housekeeping, arts, occupations, marriages, and religion, avoiding life's rugged battles.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
If any man consider the present aspects of what is called by distinction Society, he will see the need of these ethics. The sinew and heart of man seem to be drawn out, and we are become timorous desponding whimpers. We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. We want men and women who shall renovate life and our social state, but we see that most natures are insolvent; cannot satisfy their own wants, have an ambition out of all proportion to their practical force and so do lean and beg day and night continually. Our housekeeping is mendicant, our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlor soldiers. The rugged battle of fate, where strength is born, we shun.
Emerson.
Emerson.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Society
Ethics
Fear
Human Weakness
Social Renovation
What entities or persons were involved?
Emerson
Literary Details
Author
Emerson
Subject
The Present Aspects Of What Is Called By Distinction Society
Key Lines
We Are Afraid Of Truth, Afraid Of Fortune, Afraid Of Death, And Afraid Of Each Other.
Our Age Yields No Great And Perfect Persons.
We Want Men And Women Who Shall Renovate Life And Our Social State, But We See That Most Natures Are Insolvent; Cannot Satisfy Their Own Wants, Have An Ambition Out Of All Proportion To Their Practical Force And So Do Lean And Beg Day And Night Continually.