Insist on yourself. Never imitate.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
Insist on yourself. Never imitate.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
What it means
Your own gift has a whole life of practice behind it. A borrowed style is only ever half yours. Build what is native to you instead of copying the person you admire.
The source
"Insist on yourself. Never imitate." Ralph Waldo Emerson said it in Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841). Written in English: Essays: First Series, 1841.
"Insist on yourself; never imitate."Original English (Essays: First Series, 1841), Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841). Text read at gutenberg.org.
Who said it
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). American essayist and lecturer who led the Transcendentalists. His lines here come from Nature, Self-Reliance and his Essays.
Questions
- What does "Insist on yourself. Never imitate." mean?
- Your own gift has a whole life of practice behind it. A borrowed style is only ever half yours. Build what is native to you instead of copying the person you admire.
- Who said "Insist on yourself. Never imitate."?
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). Source: Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841).
- What is the original wording?
- Insist on yourself; never imitate (Original English (Essays: First Series, 1841)). Written in English: Essays: First Series, 1841.
- Is "Insist on yourself. Never imitate." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Insist on yourself. Never imitate." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841), trans. Original English (Essays: First Series, 1841)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/insist-on-yourself-never-imitate
Filed under Self.
Wear it your way
The same line in every look it fits. Each one is printed to order on heavy cotton, same price.
More from Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Trust yourself. Every heart vibrates to that iron string.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Whoever would be a man must be a nonconformist.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Nothing is sacred but the integrity of your own mind.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- To be great is to be misunderstood.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)