Introduction
There are those, said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, who feel they can never really open up, even among their friends, for fear of offending someone. Better, he advised, to choose more robust and sympathetic listeners for your little circle. The hero of an open and accepting society is not the man who never gives offence; it is the man who never takes any.
A FEW times in my life it has happened to me to meet persons of so good a nature and so good breeding, that every topic was open and discussed without possibility of offence, — persons who could not be shocked. One of my friends said in speaking of certain associates, “There is not one of them but I can offend at any moment.” But to the company I am now considering, were no terrors, no vulgarity. All topics were broached, — life, love, marriage, sex, hatred, suicide, magic, theism, art, poetry, religion, myself, thyself, all selves, and whatever else, with a security and vivacity which belonged to the nobility of the parties and to their brave truth. The life of these persons was conducted in the same calm and affirmative manner as their discourse.
Précis
In ‘Social Aims,’ American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke up in defence of freedom of association. He recalled a friend saying that he went in constant fear of offending his acquaintances, whereas Emerson enjoyed the security of knowing that his circle, whatever the subject of conversation, had shown that they could not be offended. (54 / 60 words)
In ‘Social Aims,’ American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke up in defence of freedom of association. He recalled a friend saying that he went in constant fear of offending his acquaintances, whereas Emerson enjoyed the security of knowing that his circle, whatever the subject of conversation, had shown that they could not be offended.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, if, just, may, must, or, otherwise.
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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