The best things and best people rise out of their separateness;

"The best things and best people rise out of their separateness; I'm against a homogenized society because I want the cream to rise." These words, spoken by the great Robert Frost, speak to the very essence of individuality, difference, and the celebration of uniqueness in a world often tempted by the notion of conformity. To rise means not to be swept along by the tide of the masses, not to blend into the sea of mediocrity, but to stand apart, to flourish in your distinctiveness. Frost’s insight reflects a powerful truth: the finest individuals, the greatest ideas, and the most profound contributions often come from those who have remained true to their own nature, their own vision, rather than succumbing to the pressures of a homogenized society that seeks to level everything to the same dull ground.

In the ancient world, this truth was understood and respected. The Greeks, in their idealized vision of the hero, celebrated those who stood apart from the ordinary. Achilles, the greatest of the Greek warriors in the Iliad, was not like other men. He was set apart by his greatness, his wrath, and his superhuman abilities. His tale was not one of conformity, but of struggle and individual glory. Even the gods, in their immortal wisdom, saw the value in difference and distinction, knowing that it was in separateness that true greatness could emerge. In the same way, the philosophers of ancient Athens, from Socrates to Plato, often set themselves apart from the society they lived in, seeking truth and wisdom through self-examination, not through the easy acceptance of popular opinion.

Frost’s words remind us that it is not the crowd, the majority, or the conformist that shapes the future. No, it is the individual, the one who dares to be different, who dares to stand apart, whose ideas rise to the surface like cream. To speak of "cream rising" is to recognize that, when left to their own devices, the finest will inevitably be drawn to the top, will emerge into the light, and will stand out, not by force, but by the very nature of their quality. Homogenization, on the other hand, dulls the sharp edges of brilliance, flattening the landscape into one indistinguishable mass where greatness is swallowed by the average, and the extraordinary is drowned by the ordinary.

Take, for example, the rise of Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance. In a time when Europe was recovering from centuries of stagnation, da Vinci’s mind did not conform to the accepted boundaries of his era. He was a man of separateness, a visionary who could see beyond the confines of his time. His contributions spanned art, science, and engineering, and in doing so, he defied the norms that sought to limit the human mind to certain pursuits. Da Vinci did not blend in with the crowd of his peers. Instead, he rose above, his work standing as a testament to the power of the individual who remains true to their own vision, their own passion, and their own distinctiveness.

Frost’s plea for separateness is not a call for isolation or alienation but rather a celebration of diversity—a recognition that variety in thought, in action, and in being is what makes a society vibrant, innovative, and alive. When everyone is forced to fit into the same mold, when the unique is squashed beneath the weight of uniformity, the society as a whole becomes stagnant. Greatness is found not in blending into the mass but in the willingness to stand alone, to carve your own path, and to create what only you, in your separateness, can contribute to the world.

The lesson that Frost offers is clear: embrace individuality. Recognize the value in standing apart, in questioning the norm, and in daring to be different. Do not be swayed by the pressures of conformity. Instead, cultivate the qualities that make you unique, for it is your distinctiveness that will allow you to rise. The world needs more than just average contributions—it needs the extraordinary. It needs the vision of those who refuse to be tamed by the ordinary expectations of society. Just as great ideas arise when the individual has the courage to stand alone, so too will greatness emerge from those who dare to stand apart and be themselves.

Let us, then, take Frost’s wisdom into our own lives. In a world that increasingly seeks to flatten and standardize us, let us hold firm to the belief that separateness is not a flaw but a virtue. Let us cultivate our own unique voices, pursue our own passions, and dare to stand apart from the crowd. In doing so, we will not only rise above but also help the world to see the power of the individual. And in this, we will find that, like cream, our greatness will naturally rise to the surface, and we will inspire others to do the same.