Question

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude ____.

Answer 1

Note: The word solitude is the end of that quote, this means that the dash is not necessary. I will help to explain the message the quote is passing across.

Answer:

Check below for the explanation.

Explanation:

This quote was given by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The quote means that relationship with others will be easier if one agrees completely to the opinion of the world, at the same time, if one maintains his opinions not minding the opinions of the world, then one can easily hold on to one's beliefs.

Ralph Emerson now gives credit to a man who despite being in solitude can still maintain his opinions as he would do if he was in solitude. He acknowledges how difficult this can be and gives respect to the man with this special ability.