Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" is a highly debatable piece. His ideas are often looked at insensible because much of his audience cannot fathom a life of complete self-reliance. His essay brings up many excellent points that people do not care to consider in society today. He states why people should be more self-reliant, what's generally stopping them, and how to overcome these barriers. Although it's easy to disagree with some of what Emerson has to say, most of his ideas are very intelligent and should be considered. Society has a way of corrupting its members and pulling them away from self-relia