Emerson's "American Scholar" 10/15/10

So in class we discussed the first of the two responsibities, which in many ways, is like the last of the three influences. While action is an influence on scholars, it is also a reponsibilty for them to take seriously. A scholar cannot sit around and just look at what others are doing, and can likewise he cannot be content to "parrot" the work of others. He must be willing to produce his own work, and trailblaze ahead for the rest of manhind. By sitting on his butt, the scholar is really just a completee waste to the human species, for it is his responsibility as a scholar to be the Man Thinking, and lead the rest of the world to its full potential.