国民一人一人が学問によって個人として自立し、自己の責任を果たすこと

'An independent individual makes an independent nation.' Fukuzawa argued that individual independence is directly connected to national independence. A nation of foolish citizens who rely on the government and merely submit blindly is bound to be dominated by other countries and perish. Only when each citizen becomes self-reliant through learning and fulfills their own responsibilities can the nation maintain strong independence.