..its not just the puritans. the separatists, the loyalists..everyone in american at this time was pretty much similar as far as greatness..perhaps those who were great were no different, like the preachers..they were respected, etc ...and when transcendentalism began to take hold of america, greatness manifested itself in new ways..eccentric ways. So yes, you're correct..perhaps it was not that greatness was created, rather, it was shown differently, which prompted emerson.
i'm not even positive exactly where i stand on this...which is why it's fun to discuss....<--------yeeah..we're sort of just spewing opinions...i'm not sure where i stand either lol.
as far as it being an extreme generalization, that is very true. i still stand by most of what i said above...but i definitely concede that greatnesss can indeed exist in a well-loved, accepted, understood person. Because WHAT IF..that itself was their greatness? being understood and accepted was what they were great at..then the entire thing is contradictory. But i'm getting off on a tangent here.
as far as only fools choosing love over greatness.... hhmm. I disagree. Bill Gates would most likely not drop everything and run off with the love of his life. (But perhaps thats because hes already so far immersed in the greatness..) You don't often hear about Einstein's wife..his great accomplishments were the focus of his being. And he definitely is not a fool..But he had both. If you're talking about a situation in which you can choose ONLY love or greatness...i don't think only fools would choose greatness. ..those who have never loved, don't know what its like..those who have suffered at the hands of love...they're not fools. ...everyone may have the choice..but not everyone may realize it.
i'm not even positive exactly where i stand on this...which is why it's fun to discuss....<--------yeeah..we're sort of just spewing opinions...i'm not sure where i stand either lol.
as far as it being an extreme generalization, that is very true. i still stand by most of what i said above...but i definitely concede that greatnesss can indeed exist in a well-loved, accepted, understood person. Because WHAT IF..that itself was their greatness? being understood and accepted was what they were great at..then the entire thing is contradictory. But i'm getting off on a tangent here.
as far as only fools choosing love over greatness....
hhmm. I disagree. Bill Gates would most likely not drop everything and run off with the love of his life. (But perhaps thats because hes already so far immersed in the greatness..) You don't often hear about Einstein's wife..his great accomplishments were the focus of his being. And he definitely is not a fool..But he had both. If you're talking about a situation in which you can choose ONLY love or greatness...i don't think only fools would choose greatness. ..those who have never loved, don't know what its like..those who have suffered at the hands of love...they're not fools. ...everyone may have the choice..but not everyone may realize it.
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