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We come to our own and would make friends with matter…

“We come to our own and would make friends with matter, which the ambitious chatter of the schools would persuade us to despise. We can never part with it; the mind loves its old home: as water to our thirst, so is rock, the ground, to our eyes, and hands, and feet. It is firm water: it is cold…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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“We come to our own and would make friends with matter, which the ambitious chatter of the schools would persuade us to despise. We can never part with it; the mind loves its old home: as water to our thirst, so is rock, the ground, to our eyes, and hands, and feet. It is firm water: it is cold flame: what health, what affinity!”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We are naturally attached to the physical world, and intellectual pursuits often try to distance us from it, yet our minds find comfort in familiar surroundings.

In simple terms: We love familiar places and things, even when told to reject them.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both mind and matter.

Themes

nature attachment philosophy

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • daily life
  • education
  • creative work
  • travel
  • urban living

Key Concepts

homeostasis affinity materialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does familiarity shape your choices?
  • Can you balance comfort with curiosity?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on material comfort can hinder growth.

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