“Trust thyself.” One of the most life-affirming and striking realisations (the epitome of self-help!) ever imparted by Emerson (in my opinion, anyway).
The meritorious mandate speaks to individuality, non-conformity and honesty, as Emerson forewarns us to not “drag about this corpse” of our memories in undeserving reverence for the past and consistency over the incorruptibility of probity to self and others.
“Speak what you think now in hard words and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day.—“
~ Self Reliance
As humans, we are susceptible to disparate moods, as our assumptions, conceptions and opinions are vulnerable to the same; and this is not a bad thing, for moods are fluid, define our personalities, and consequently, there is no assurance that we will not unsay tomorrow that which we have spoken today. We are not to be derided as mercurial and Emerson addresses this expertly:
“I endeavored to show my good men that I love everything by turns and nothing long; that I loved the centre, but doated on the superficies; that I loved man, if men seemed to me mice and rats; that I revered saints, but woke up glad that the old pagan world stood its ground and died hard; that I was glad of men of every gift and nobility, but would not live in their arms.”
~ Nominalist and Realist
To wit: trust thyself!
A Classicist Writes... 
You know what bothers me, is that the book I have of the complete works of Emerson shows the quote as “Else if you would be a man speak what you think to-day in words as hard as cannon balls, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day.” but almost everywhere online shows it the way you wrote it. What is the deal with that? Honestly I feel more inclined to trust a book than the internet though, but I’m just not sure.
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I have about four copies of “Self Reliance,” and they’re half and half on this quote. I have begun to accept it depends o;the Publisher. I consistently see memes on the internet crediting Emerson with saying things he never even said! The internet is wonderful in some ways; but, in others…
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In a sense, this contradiction rather embodies the quote which is the subject of our dialogue on consistency…
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HAHA that is true. And wasn’t my post on people lying about what Emerson said what brought us together? So at least something good came of such internet ridiculousness 😀
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YES! You are correct: the ineptness of the internet and its users indeed brought our minds together. I am grateful. For the giggles and for the opportunity to know a like mind.
I created my own meme: a photo of Emerson with the quote: “one does not simply walk into Mordor.” BAHAHA!!!
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