Need help understanding a phrase of Emerson's Self-Reliance

[lightningkite]

Hi everyone,

I've struggled in vain to understand this sentence:

"The nonchalance of boys who are sure of a dinner, and would disdain as much as a lord to do or say aught to conciliate one, is the healthy attitude of human nature."

Can anyone help me?

aught = anything

1. Does this mean boys that are sure (of themselves) at a dinner?
2. 'disdain as much...' - does this mean the boy would disdain as a lord disdain to try to win someone over in a dishonest manner?

[stlukesguild]

It would seem that Emerson is stating that the ideal state of mankind would be to be like a Lord... or a child... who are both certain of their keep and need not ever bring themselves to do or say something they do not wish to do in order to assure their keep. In other words, the healthy state of mankind is seen as being unwilling to ever say or do something that one does not wish merely to guarantee one's security.

[JBI]

In other words, everything is done for a reason, that is, to gain ones dinner, or seem sociable, or achieve some selfish end (somewhat similar to Nietzsche's Will To Power).

He says the ideal state would be, to be like a boy, sure of forgiveness and a meal, so unafraid of misstepping, or a god, who knows his place is secure, and has no need of flattering. In other words, Kings are above social mores.