Transcendentalism, it's beliefs and history, including information on Thoreau and Emerson, including quotes

Subject  > Social Science Essays  > Society and community

So very many things in life sound like a great idea until they are actually acted upon. Examples of this are communism, eating an Extra Large Super Banana Split all by yourself, mosh pits, relationships in high school, and transcendentalism. They all seem wonderful and will create excellent results; but once you try and put the puzzle together you're missing several pieces. Transcendentalists endeavored to extend their ideas across the country, but failed. Their ideas were excellent, and their motives pure, but people could not live up to the expectations of a transcendentalist society. They were very nature-oriented, spiritual, peaceful, hopeful people. They wanted mankind to be in harmony with the environment. They ...

... with us or we find it not." Thoreau, too shared many of his thoughts in essays, poems and through stories. He acknowledged the importance of not being selfish; " A man cannot be said to succeed in this life who does not satisfy one friend," and, "The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked what I thought, and attended to my answer." He also recognizes empathy and its influence on the world; "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." Through empathy, we can

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