The State must follow, and not lead, the character and progress of the citizen. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Those who listened to Lord Chatham felt that there was something finer in the man, than anything which he said. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Since everything in nature answers to a moral power, if any phenomenon remains brute and dark, it is that the corresponding faculty… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is not what talents or genius a man has, but how he is to his talents, that constitutes friendship and character.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The most Indian thing about the Indian is surely not his moccasins or his calumet, his wampum or his stone hatched, but… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The virtues of society are vices of the saint. The terror of reform is the discovery that we must cast away our… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
If we must accept fate we are not less compelled to affirm liberty, the significance of the individual, the grandeur of duty,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We know who is benevolent, by quite other means than the amount of subscriptions to soup-societies. It is only low merits that… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The intuition of the moral sentiment is an insight of the perfection of the laws of the soul. These laws execute themselves.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every great institution is the lengthened shadow of a single man. His character determines the character of the organization. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
That which we call character is a reserved force which acts directly by presence, and without means. It is conceived of as… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is said that when manners are licentious, a revolution is always near: the virtue of woman being the main girth and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The heroic soul does not sell its justice and its nobleness. It does not ask to dine nicely and to sleep warm.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Cities force growth and make men talkative and entertaining, but they make them artificial. What possesses interest for us is thenatural of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
By fate, not option, frugal Nature gave One scent to hyson and to wall-flower, One sound to pine-groves and to water-falls, One… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
For you, o broker, there is no other principle but arithmetic. For me, commerce is of trivial import; love, faith, truth of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Every word which is used to express a moral or intellectual fact, if traced to its root, is found to be borrowed… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The magnanimous know very well that they who give time, or money, or shelter, to the stranger--so it be done for love,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The sentiment of virtue is a reverence and delight in the presence of certain divine laws. It perceives that this homely game… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every fact is related on one side to sensation, and, on the other, to morals. The game of thought is, on the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
For me, commerce is of trivial import; love, faith, truth of character, the aspiration of man, these are sacred; nor can I… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The persons who constitute the natural aristocracy, are not found in the actual aristocracy, or, only on its edge; as the chemicalenergy… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Beauty is the mark God sets on virtue. Every natural action is graceful; every heroic act is also decent, and causes the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What the tender and poetic youth dreams to-day, and conjures up with inarticulate speech, is to-morrow the vociferated result of public opinion,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We are like travellers using the cinders of a volcano to roast their eggs. Whilst we see that it always stands ready… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A man is like a bit of Labrador spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand, until you… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
To be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false,--this is the mark and… — 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
Society gains nothing whilst a man, not himself renovated, attempts to renovate things around him; he has become tediously good insome particular… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is plain that there is no separate essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the… — 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
We pass for what we are. Character teaches above our wills. Men imagine that they communicate thier virtue or vice by overt… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In our Mechanics' Fair, there must be not only bridges, ploughs, carpenter's planes, and baking troughs, but also some few finer instruments,--rain-gauges,… — 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
