In this excerpt, Emerson is in favor of, and stresses the importance of, individual intellect and moral development. He urges readers to look within into their inner selves to seek inspiration and attain self-reliance rather than imitating others or adopting age-old ideas, which society has practiced overtime. He uses examples of great thinkers such as Moses, Milton, and Plato, who thought for themselves and didn’t let society and established ideas influence them. Emerson further stresses that people should not dismiss their own ideas, only to discover them in others’ works, but learn to nurture and accept their potential. When people are able to accept and trust their own thoughts, they will be able to come up with ideas as brilliant and original as those of any wise man.