Self-Reliance:
Self-reliance is the idea of depending on only yourself over the people and resources around all of us. The transcendentalists believed that depending on oneself made them better in what they did, and gave a sense of pride that was there when something is done for you. A recent book that has been written called Delirium was written, and is a very good example of self-reliance. The book is based in a future society where love is a disease rather than an emotion. Everyone is forced to do the same thing and think the same way, but the main character Lena has to learn to depend on herself when she starts to fall in love with Alex. She has to defy her family, her friends, and the government to run away and start a life of her own outside the fence on the outside of town.
“I'd rather die my way than live yours.”
― Lauren Oliver, Delirium
“Everyone you trust, everyone you think you can count on, will eventually disappoint you.”
― Lauren Oliver, Delirium
“It's us against them, three against countless thousands. But for some reason, and even though it's absurd, at that moment I feel pretty damn good about our odds.”
― Lauren Oliver, Delirium