“Nothing can bring a man as much happiness or as much unhappiness as man himself.” – Frederick Douglass From the dawn of man's creation to the present day, we have pondered the idea of ​​being in control of our destiny. However, an answer to such a difficult proposition did not arise until the end of the 19th century. This era gave birth to the Lyceum movement, which sparked a belief in individualism among Americans. The two men known to be the catalysts for this theory were Frederick Douglas and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Furthermore, this concept of free will and becoming financially self-sufficient is still prevalent in modern society. The period between the mid-20th (20th) and early 21st (21st) centuries has become the era of entrepreneurship, in which people of all nations no longer wish to work “for man” but create your own legacy of prosperity. Likewise, it is a period in time that redefined how people from all walks of life can achieve success and wealth. Hence the evolution of reality TV stars, YouTube sensations and rappers from everyday individuals to fashion designers, actors and CEOs. However, our definition of success is not only defined by wealth, but also includes a meaningful life, similar to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Of course, I'm talking about a life that includes the ability to change the our world for the better. Consequently, in his piece entitled “Self-Made Men” Frederick Douglas enlightens us on the theory behind the success of these individuals. According to Douglas, the best, if not the only, explanation for their success is that they are working men/women. He believes that although there may be other factors in society...... middle of paper ......r if God decides to rewrite your destiny. Consequently, this is why as human beings we will never have complete control of our destiny. In summary, the idea of ​​self-sufficiency will continue to confuse the minds of our current and future generations. In reality, this is due to the lack of a definitive answer to the question. However, I am convinced that regardless of whether an individual is a believer or non-believer in controlling one's destiny, there are uncontrollable forces or factors in life that have the ability to control a small percentage of one's destiny. Works Cited1. Ralph Waldo Emerson – “Self-Reliance” (1841) http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliant.htm2. Frederick Douglas – “Self-Made Men” (1872) http://www.monadock.net/douglass/self-made-men.html3. New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Bible Gateway. Sat. October. 8, 2011.