Individualism is one of the fundamental ideas of Transcendentalism. The idea of thinking for oneself without the rules set by society. Individualism inspires free thought and actions based on a persons own values, not the values of others.At the time in which the transcendentals thrived, many transcendental ideas were not well received by popular culture. Rather than taking this as a sign of defeat, the transcendentals remained true to their values and continued to advocate their unpopular ideas. By remaining independent an individual is allowed to both retain their identity and expand it. Many people saw individualism as a a refusal to act civil around others and a way to cause trouble. Many advocates for individualism were considered rabble-raisers, trouble makers and criminals. Thoreau himself went to prison for advocating his beliefs by disobeying the law. However, the true purpose of individualism is not to cause trouble, but to promote people to make the choices of peace and harmony on their own. As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it "Conformity is the death of individualism."

Throughout history many of the worlds greatest figures have fought for the causes of Individualism.

"All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established." -Aristotle

"Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is manís original virtue." -Oscar Wilde

"The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone." -Henrik Ibsen

"The liberty of the individual is no gift of civilization. It was greatest before there was any civilization." -Sigmund Freud

"He that is master of himself, and his own life, has a right to the means of preserving it." -John Locke

"The rational individualist is not the enemy of benevolence or civility, but their truest exemplar." -David Kelley

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