“What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in

actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.

” Paragraph 9

Connection to real-world

You see nonconformity all over the world. People changing the stereotypical roles of parents like moms going to work and dads staying home. People stop living in typical homes and transitioning into living in vans that way they can travel. This shows that people have to do what works for them even if it is different from “the usual”

Example from the media

You can see nonconformity in the movie Frozen. Where a girl named Elsa was going to be queen and typically Disney princesses have a prince. She broke the stereotype that all women need a man when they are royalty. She stayed single and never fell in love

“But the man is, as it were, clapped into jail by his consciousness. As soon as he has once acted or spoken with Eclat, he is a committed person, watched by the sympathy or the hatred of hundreds, whose affections must now enter into his account.” Paragraph 5

Real-world example

More and more people around the world are starting to say what they believe and not feel ashamed for feeling it. Such as the abortion topic that is going around many people are going and saying their beliefs despite what everyone else believes. Another example is the protests that are happening all around the world where people are fighting for their beliefs, to be heard, and not let other people tell them what they can or can't do.

Example from the media

The movie Coco shows a young boy who dreams of playing music even though his family has made it very clear that nobody is allowed to play music. Which makes him want to play music, even more.

“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine 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 perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept 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.” Paragraph 3

Real-world example

People who live “off the grid”, using solar panels, growing their own food, producing their own products, and taking other steps to minimize their dependence on the infrastructure the rest of us take for granted. This relates to the quotes because they don't rely on other people to help them or make them pay for things and basic needs.

Media example

In the movie “Finding Dory” A fish had to rely on herself to find her parents after not knowing where they were for most of her life. For most of the movie, she is on her own and doesn't have other fish helping her find them. She had her friends with her, but only she knew where to go and what to do. Dory didn't use anyone who was better than her (people) to help her find her way meaning she didn't need help from anyone who actually knew what was going on.

“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. Devil.” No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it.” Paragraph 7

Real-world example

Confidence is used all over to world in many different ways. For example, my dad has to use confidence and truly be confident in his choices on a firecall to make sure that the best outcome is possible. Another way is a student asking for help even if they are nervous. That student has to build up a lot of confidence to be able to ask for help. Confidence is is is also used when you admit that you did something wrong and it's hard to admit you were in the wrong especially when you thought you were right. This quote helps this explanation because confidence can make things better for yourself. Like making sure that you don’t feel the guilt of making a bad choice costing someone their life. Or being able to know how to solve a math equation and even help someone who's confused. And even being able to let yourself know that you were wrong. It's all over the world and having confidence is the greatest key to life.

Media example

In the movie “Rudy” a boy is continuously pushed away but his confidence keeps him going, he knows where he is meant to be and with all the confidence he has he finally gets into his dream college, and even further along he is able to make his dreams come true. This goes back to how important confidence is and how much people need it in their lives otherwise life will be a lot harder

“But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee

the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time.” Paragraph 23

Real-life example

Nature is so important in many aspects not just physically but also mentally. Forests, rivers, oceans, and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we irrigate our crops with, as well as bringing us a sense of positivity, creativity, joy, calmness, and peace. Without nature this world wouldn't even exist some people may not have somewhere to decompress for a bit, and some people may not have much joy in life without it. Nature is everywhere. Everywhere nature is, beauty will always follow.

Example from the media

The movie Wall-E is one of the best examples of how important nature is and how important it is to take care of it. Without it humans become lazy and have no joy left. The small robot did everything he could to make the ecosystem amazing again by the use of one small plant at a time when the humans started seeing all the plants it brought them a sense of happiness and helped them make their lives better. This movie perfectly shows how valuable nature is to the human world and how much it makes a difference in everyone's lives.