A painter told me that nobody could draw a tree without in some sort becoming a tree. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
An artist spends himself like the crayon in his hand, till he is all gone. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The artists must be sacrificed to their art. Like the bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Virtue runs before the muse, and defies her skill; she is rapt and doth refuse to wait a painter's will. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The True Artist has the planet for his pedestal; the adventurer, after years of strife, has nothing broader than his shoes. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A vivid thought brings the power to paint it; and in proportion to the depth of its source is the force of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The conscious utterance of thought, by speech or action, to any end, is art. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Perpetual modernness is the measure of merit, in every work of art; since the author of it was not misled by anything… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Do not call yourself an "artist-photographer" and make "artist-painters" and "artist-sculptors" laugh; call yourself a photographer and wait for artists to call… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
As the eye is the best composer, so light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Art, in the artist, is proportion, or, a habitual respect to the whole by an eye loving beauty in details. And the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The poet, the painter, the sculptor, the musican, the architect, seek each to concentrate this radiance of the world on one point,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
These arts open great gates of a future, promising to make the world plastic and to lift human life out of its… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The art of sculpture is long ago perished to any real effect... it is the game of a rude and youthful people,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In the Greek cities, it was reckoned profane, that any person should pretend a property in a work of art, which belonged… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“In happy hours, nature appears to us one with art; art perfected, -- the work of genius. And the individual, in whom… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Each work of art excludes the world, concentrates attention on itself. For the time it is the only thing worth doing -to… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“The conscious utterance of thought, by speech or action, to any end, is Art. From the first imitative babble of a child… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Genial manners are good, and power of accommodation to any circumstance, but the high prize of life, the crowning fortune of a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
You cannot hide any secret. If the artist succor his flagging spirits by opium or wine, his work will characterize itself as… — 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
In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense light will not make it beautiful. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Art and power will go on as they have done,--will make day out of night, time out of space, and space out… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Art is not to be found by touring to Egypt, China, or Peru; if you cannot find it at your own door,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Sculpture and painting have the effect of teaching us manners and abolishing hurry. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is no architect Can build as the Muse can; She is skilful to select Materials for her plan. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Tis the privilege of Art Thus to play its cheerful part, Man on earth to acclimate And bend the exile to his… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Great is paint; nay, God is the painter; and we rightly accuse the critic who destroys too many illusions. Society does not… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I look on Sculpture as history. I do not think the Apollo and the Jove impossible in flesh and blood. Every trait… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What art can paint or gild any object in after life with the glow which nature gives to the first baubles of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature paints the best part of a picture, carves the best parts of the statue, builds the best part of the house,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In sculpture did ever anybody call the Apollo a fancy piece? Or say of the Laocoon how it might be made different?… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Art is the need to create; but in its essence, immense and universal, it is impatient of working with lame or tied… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I have heard that stiff people lose something of their awkwardness under high ceilings, and in spacious halls. I think, sculptureand painting… — 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