There can be no high civility without a deep morality, though it may not always call itself by that name. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The victories of character are instant, and victories for all. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Virtue alone is sweet society, It keeps the key to all heroic hearts, And opens you a welcome in them all. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact makes much impression on him, and another none. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Character is an invincible force, which acts by presence and without means — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A low self-love in the parent desires that his child should repeat his character and fortune. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Virtues are in the popular estimate rather the exception than the rule.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Preaching is the expression of the moral sentiment in application to the duties of life. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The virtue you would like to have, assume it is already yours, appropriate it, enter into the part and live the character… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The merit of those who fill a space in the world's history, who are borne forward, as it were, by the weight… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A state of war or anarchy, in which law has little force, is so far valuable, that it puts every man on… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is always a practical difficulty with clubs to regulate the laws of election so as to exclude peremptorily every social nuisance.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Gross and obscure natures, however decorated, seem impure shambles; but character gives splendor to youth, and awe to wrinkled skin and gray… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Foolish, whenever you take the meanness and formality of that thing you do, instead of converting it into the obedient spiracle ofyour… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
An expense of ends to means is fate;Morganization tyrannizing over character. The menagerie, or forms and powers of the spine, is a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of the cities, nor the crops – no, but the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
So each man, like each plant, has his parasites. A strong, astringent, bilious nature has more truculent enemies than the slugs and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinction. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature never rhymes her children, nor makes two men alike. When we see a great man, we fancy a resemblance to some… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
My friends have come to me unsought. The great God gave them to me. By oldest right, by the divine affinity of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Without looking, then, to those extraordinary social influences which are now acting in precisely this direction, but only at whatis inevitably doing… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But the wise know that foolish legislation is a rope of sand, which perishes in the twisting; that the State must follow,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But the mark of American merit in painting, in sculpture, in poetry, in fiction, in eloquence, seems to be a certain grace… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Why should all virtue work in one and the same way? Why should all give dollars? It is very inconvenient to us… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every man's nature is a sufficient advertisement to him of the character of his fellows. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
If thought makes free, so does the moral sentiment. The mixtures of spiritual chemistry refuse to be analyzed. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“The alleged power to charm down insanity, or ferocity in beasts, is a power behind the eye.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
For the most part, only the light characters travel. Who are you that have no task to keep you at home? — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The fatal trait of the times is the divorce between religion and morality. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Repose and cheerfulness is the badge of the gentleman; repose in energy. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Virtues are, in the popular estimate, rather the exception than the rule. There is the man and his virtues. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Judge of your natural character by what you do in your dreams. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It takes a good deal of character to judge a person by his future instead of his past — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Human character evermore publishes itself. The most fugitive deed and word, the intimated purpose, express character. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Men of character are the conscience of the society to which they belong. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character. — 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
