Books take their place according to their specific gravity as surely as potatoes in a tub. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
My book should smell of pines and resound with the hum of insects. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“It is remarkable, the character of the pleasure we derive from the best books.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
That book is good Which puts me in a working mood. Unless to Thought be added Will Apollo is an imbecile. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
O Day of days when we can read! The reader and the book, either without the other is naught. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There are books . . . which rank in our life with parents and lovers and passionate experiences. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Friends should be like books, easy to find when you need them, but seldom used. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Let us not forget the genial miraculous force we have known to proceed from a book. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In the right hands, literature is not resorted to as a consolation, and by the broken and decayed, but as a decalogue. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every book is a quotation; and every house is a quotation out of all forests, and mines, and stone quarries; and every… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
How much we forgive to those who yield us the rare spectacle of heroic manners! We will pardon them the want of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The cure for false theology is motherwit. Forget your books and traditions, and obey your moral perceptions at this hour. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Read proudly--put the duty of being read invariably on the author. If he is not read, whose fault is it? I am… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We must not inquire too curiously into the absolute value of literature. Enough that it amuses and exercises us. At least it… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“The crowds and centuries of books are only commentary and elucidation, echoes and weakeners of those few great voices of Time.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In the first place, all books that get fairly into the vital air of the world were written by the successful class,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Converse with a mind that is grandly simple, and literature looks like word-catching. The simplest utterances are worthiest to bewritten, yet are… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A man is known by the books he reads, by the company he keeps, by the praise he gives, by his dress,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We over-estimate the conscience of our friend. His goodness seems better than our goodness, his nature finer, his temptations less. Everything that… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Everybody we know surrounds himself with a fine house, fine books, conservatory, gardens, equipage, and all manner of toys, as screens to… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We do not yet trust the unknown powers of thought. Whence came all these tools, inventions, book laws, parties, kingdoms? Out of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Meek young men grow up in libraries, believing it their duty to accept the views which Cicero, which Locke, which Bacon, have… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But, if we explore the literature of Heroism, we shall quickly come to Plutarch, who is its Doctor and historian. To him… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“the best read naturalist who lends an entire and devout attention to truth, will see that there remains much to learn of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
All writing is by the grace of God. People do not deserve to have good writing, they are so pleased with bad.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“There is a class whose value I should designate as Favorites: such as Froissart's Chronicles; Southey's Chronicle of the Cid ; Cervantes… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In the learned journal, in the influential newspaper, I discern no form; only some irresponsible shadow; oftener some monied corporation, or some… — 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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
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 Image
