Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for.
The saying encourages people to develop their own abilities rather than imitate someone else’s path. Its “inward voice” represents personal judgement or conviction, while the advice to pursue what one does well emphasises individual strengths. The central idea is that character develops through self-knowledge, independence and the courage to act according to one’s own capacities.
The wording closely resembles themes associated with Emerson, particularly self-reliance, nonconformity and trust in individual judgement. However, the quotation is widely attributed to him without a securely identified source, so its authorship should be treated cautiously. Taken on its own terms, it does not imply that people should avoid learning from others or attempting unfamiliar things. Rather, it contrasts constructive self-development with imitation that suppresses individual judgement and aptitude.