Question

Read this excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "self-reliance":

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine for providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age betraying their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating heart vibrates to that I don't string except the place the divine for violence has found for you the society of your current temporaries the connection of events great men have always done so and confident can find themselves childlike to the genius of their age betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating and all their being. And we are now men, and must except in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark.


Which of the following sentences best describes the author central claim in this excerpt?

A. Men must except the reality of life if they want to find true happiness

B. Men should retain their innocence and trust their instincts to achieve great things

C. Men have to believe in the existence of good and evil and do what is right

D. Men must except whatever the divine being has set for them and trust themselves

Answer 1

B.Men should retain their innocence and trust their instincts to achieve great things

Answer 2

B. Men should retain their innocence and trust their instincts to achieve great things

Step-by-step explanation:

As stated in the excerpt from "Self-Reliance," Ralph Waldo Emerson makes an appeal to people's confidence, and claims that people should believe in themselves, even if the world is chaotic. In that respect, he also mentions that people should become as confident as children and follow their instincts instead of following the crowds.