self-reliance

[self-ri-lahy-uhns, self-]

noun

1. reliance on oneself or one's own powers, resources, etc.

self-reliance

noun

1. reliance on one's own abilities, decisions, etc

“Self-Reliance”

1. (1841) An essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson that advises the reader to “Trust thyself” and argues that “whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” It is the source of several well-known epigrams, such as “To be great is to be misunderstood” and “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”

Other Word Forms

• self-reliant adjective
• self-reliantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of “Self-Reliance”¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The sudden surge in its popularity is being linked to the federal government's push for self-reliance as India deals with the impact of steep US trade tariffs on its goods.

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They grew their own food and built a community among like-minded people who believed in harmony and self-reliance.

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Despite self-reliance campaigns, indigenous platforms remain limited and most high-value military technology is imported.

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Still, births are all but unheard at the celebration of “community, art, self-expression and self-reliance.”

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"For India's policymakers and business leaders alike, the mantra will need to be: increase self-reliance, diversify, and leave no stone unturned."

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Related Words

• autonomy 
• self-determination 
• self-government 
• self-rule 
• self-sufficiency www.thesaurus.com
• sovereignty