the american scholar

Emerson is saying that the majority of people in the world are trying to rush their way through life and you cannot always be reliant on your parents and elders to be their for you. New things will come into play and you need to be ready for them. He is also saying how one person is not limited to one thing, and they can do anything if they put their mind to it. If one puts in the work they will get what they deserve. Every person will not just learn things on their own, they need to be taught.