Self Reliance

Emerson writes that the only way to be successful in life is to put yourself above all else. He says that you must reject everyone else and there beliefs and work solely to further yourself. Emerson thinks that if you put people down along the way and your actions are solely for yourself than you will be successful over all. 

I disagree that this is the way to be successful. If you only work for yourself then you may become successful but that success will only benefit you and it will not help others around you. Personally, I think that it is more important for a person to work with others while he or she is trying to become successful. Success is important in our society but not success which only helps the individual. I think that the only important success comes from the person who helps others through his or her success. 

Success through only improving yourself and not others is not easy to achieve. You can not simply step on others and magically become successful. In order to be successful you must demand respect from others. In order to get that respect you have to be liked and appreciated and if you step on others constantly just to better yourself you will not be respected. Which in turn, means that you will not become successful.