No Man is an Island by John Donne

No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were:
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

This is one of my favorite poems. I, of course, like everyone else strive to be as independent as possible. This poem reminds us that no one is truly self-sufficient; everyone relies on others in some way, shape or form.