Keating demonstrates to his students that books and poetry are necessary in life, but should not be relied upon completely. For example, Mr. Keating tells his students that, “We don't read or write poetry because it's nice. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is full of passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble and necessary activities to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, this is what we stay alive for' ”. Likewise, Emerson believes that “Moses, Plato, and Milton despised books and traditions, and spoke not what men but what they thought. A man should learn to detect and observe that glimmer of light that passes through his mind from within, more than the splendor of the firmament of bards and sages.” Poetry, books, lore, bards, and sages are essential for people to have passion and knowledge in life, but that doesn't mean they should live a life based on those ideas. At some point in life, people have to think for themselves. They should pursue what their heart wants because everyone has to think for themselves and find their own talents. This is the main idea that Keating and Emerson are trying to explain. So, this is the concept that Mr. Keating is trying to convey