He is to make his contribution to individual improvement primarily by making himself more of an individual.

The individual as well as the nation must be educated and "uplifted" chiefly by what the individual can do for himself.

Education, like charity, should begin at home.
An individual can, then, best serve the cause of American individuality by effectually accomplishing his own individual emancipation--that is, by doing his own special work with ability, energy, disinterestedness, and excellence.

The scope of the individual's opportunities at any one time will depend largely upon society, but whatever they amount to, the individual has no excuse for not making the most of them.

Before he can be of any service to his fellows, he must mold himself into the condition and habit of being a good instrument.