What does Emerson argue should be the basis of human actions in second paragraph Self-Reliance?

In the second paragraph of "Self-Reliance," Emerson argues that the basis of human actions should be our own intuition and inner voice, rather than the opinions or expectations of society.

He uses powerful imagery to express this:

* "A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages." This means we should trust our own inner spark of inspiration and insight more than the wisdom of famous thinkers or societal norms.

* "Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty." Here, Emerson suggests that we often ignore our own brilliant ideas because we lack confidence in ourselves. He emphasizes that these thoughts are our own and are worthy of attention.

* "And so the world has been instructed by great men that each individual nature is a sufficient and perfect oracle." This statement highlights that each person possesses the potential for greatness and self-reliance, as shown by history's great figures.

By advocating for self-trust and the pursuit of individual intuition, Emerson calls on readers to break free from the constraints of conformity and embrace their authentic selves. He believes that true greatness stems from following our own path, not the prescribed one.