Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

No, our greatness does not come from our government.

In this country I am my own master and may do as I please

The real question is, at the end of the day, do we want to run our country? Are we proud of who we are? Are we happy to be just a star on somebody else's flag, or do we want to be an independent nation?

Nobody owes anything to anybody. You are your authentic self to whom and when you choose to be, and if you don't know somebody, then why would you explain to them how you live your life?

Individualism is a formidable lie.

I do not want to see any of the people cringing supplicants for the favor of the Government, when they should all be independent masters of their own destiny.

Men love liberty because it protects them from control and humiliation by others, thus affording them the possibility of dignity; they loathe liberty because it throws them back on their own abilities and resources, thus confronting them with the possibility of insignificance.

I like to be able to do things on my own. I'm a big boy. I can drive myself to an appearance or get on a plane. I like a little bit of independence...

I don't live on other people's terms.

South Carolinians are strong, independently-minded people. At the end of the day, they make their own decisions. And I respect them for that. And I welcome that. And I told him that from the very beginning.

America was born out of a desire for self-determination, a longing for the human dignity that only independence can bring.

I'm Thalia on my own.

I have an aversion to being mislabeled. Here's a label I'd accept: I'm an 'individual.' I'm someone who can't follow, and doesn't want to lead.

One of mom's greatest acts of generosity was that she trained me to be defiant. Her great gift to me was encouraging me to be the person that I wanted to be, not the one that she and my father wished I was.

In America, it is difficult to be your own man.

I was not someone who participated in other people's castles.

I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.' Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be, and that's not for me to do for him. Or vice versa.

I've always earned my own money and enjoy being independent. It's how I was brought up.

I do what I do; I can't control who thinks what.

I'm just living my life, and I'm not gonna live my life for other people.

Impatience is the mark of independence, not of bondage.

I do need my independence. I have to have that.

People are probably going to realize they can live with a lot less government than what they thought they needed.

I don't idolize anyone or aspire to be like anyone.

I am definitely an individual.