We talk of choosing our friends, but our friends are self-elected. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What you are shouts at me so loudly that I can't hear a word you say. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Science is nothing but the finding of analogy, identity, in the most remote parts. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Fear is an instructor of great sagacity, and the herald of all revolutions. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Poetry makes its own pertinence, and a single stanza outweighs a book of prose. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Genius is the power to labor better and more availably. Deserve thy genius: exalt it. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A character is like an acrostic or Alexandrian stanza; - read it forward, backward, or across, it still spells the same thing. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Character is higher than intellect... A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is God in you that responds to God without, or affirms his own words trembling on the lips of another. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is nothing capricious in nature and the implanting of a desire indicates that its gratification is in the constitution of the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
He presents me with what is always an acceptable gift who brings me news of a great thought before unknown. He enriches… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We do what we must, and call it by the best names we can, and would fain have the praise of having… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But dare rather to quit the platform, plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep, & swim far, so shall you come back… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
If you would serve your brother it is fit for you to serve him, do not take back your words when you… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“It could be said that a single person has written all the books in the world such central unity is in them… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share
The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share