Ethics and religion differ herein; that the one is the system of human duties commencing from man; the other, from God. Religion… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature will not be Buddhist: she resents generalizing, and insults the philosopher in every moment with a million fresh particulars. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The astonishment of life is the absence of any appearances of reconciliation between the theory and the practice of life. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Art is a jealous mistress, and if a man has a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture or philosophy, he makes a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Man is physical as well as metaphysical, a thing of shreds and patches, borrowed unequally from good and bad ancestors, and a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A mind might ponder its thought for an epoch, and not gain so much self-knowledge as the passion of love shall teach… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is no way to success in art but to take off your coat, grind paint, and work like a digger on… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Napoleon said of Massena, that he was not himself until the battle began to go against him; then, when the dead began… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The civility of no race can be perfect whilst another race is degraded. It is a doctrine alike of the oldest and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Philosophically considered, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul. Strictly speaking, therefore, all that is separate from us, all which… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Religious literature has eminent examples, and if we run over our private list of poets, critics, philanthropists and philosophers, we shall find… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
He in whom the love of repose predominates will accept the first creed, the first philosophy, the first political party he meets… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Philosophically considered, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul. Strictly speaking, therefore, all that is separate from us, all which… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after your own;… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
How can we speak of the action of the mind under any divisions, as of its knowledge, of its ethics, of its… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We lie in the lap of immense intelligence, which makes us receivers of its truth and organ of its activity. When we… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The new statement will comprise the skepticisms, as well as the faiths of society, and out of unbeliefs a creed shall be… — 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