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McCandless embodied Emerson's principles in two ways. First, he was unconcerned by the opinions of others because "to be great is to be misunderstood". He didn't care what others thought because he knew it was both inconsequential and a symbol of his greatness. Second, he was responsible for achieving his own happiness and peace. He wouldn't obtain fulfilment by staying idly; that's why he wandered around a lot: he was hunting for said fulfillment. These two factors allowed him to detach from personal relationships and it explains his unquenchable wanderlust: he was crafting his own path, in the Emerson way.

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Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, by Caspar David Friedrich (1818)

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"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself"

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"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself"

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Now considered one of the greatest artists in history, during his lifetime van Gogh was a rejected and unknown individual who was considered to be mentally unstable. He never knew fame and riches during his lifetime; it wouldn't be until decades later that his genius was recognized.

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An elderly Cash reminisces on his life, his regrets, the people he's met, the nostalgia of a celebrated career coming to a close, but most importantly, himself. The song ends with: "If I could start again/A million miles away/I would keep myself/I would find a way". Despite it all, Cash wouldn't change who he is if given the chance; as established by Emerson, Cash is genuine with himself because he built himself, not leaving himself to destiny or others.

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Interpreted by Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's "Dollars Trilogy"

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Ruthless, implacable, unconcerned by anything but his own place in the world, yet still guided by a code of morality. Even as he pursues his goals, he is careful to repay debts, help others, and even have mercy with his rivals. He is a self-made man, who does what he considers needs to be done, and nothing else.