---
title: "6 Chief Quotes By Ralph Waldo Emerson"
description: "6 Chief quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Plus more from Ralph Waldo Emerson and more Chief sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_achievement_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-w_524710.png"
---

> [Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-will-make-us-do-what-we-can/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_achievement_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-w_524710.png)

> [The chief mourner does not always attend the funeral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-chief-mourner-does-not-always-attend-the-funeral/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_the-chief-mourner-does-not-always-attend_630539.png)

> [We must have kings, we must have nobles; nature is always providing such in every society; only let us have the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-must-have-kings-we-must-have-nobles-nature-is-always-providing/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_advise_we-must-have-kings-we-must-have-nobles-n_834138.jpg)

> [Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-is-someone-who-will-inspire-us-to-be-what-we-know-we/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-is-someone-who-will-inspi_1682799.png)

> [Our chief want in life, is, someone who shall make us do what we can. This is the service of a friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-in-life-is-someone-who-shall-make-us-do-what-we-can/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-someone-who-sh_1866824.jpg)

> [Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-shall-make-us-do-what-we-can/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-s_2933651.png)

## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson

> [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/#itemlist",
            "name": "6 Chief Quotes By Ralph Waldo Emerson",
            "numberOfItems": 6,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-will-make-us-do-what-we-can/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_achievement_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-w_524710.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_achievement_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-w_524710.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_achievement_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-w_524710.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "The chief mourner does not always attend the funeral.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-chief-mourner-does-not-always-attend-the-funeral/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_the-chief-mourner-does-not-always-attend_630539.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_the-chief-mourner-does-not-always-attend_630539.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_the-chief-mourner-does-not-always-attend_630539.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“The chief mourner does not always attend the funeral.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "We must have kings, we must have nobles; nature is always providing such in every society; only let us have the real instead of the titular. In every society some are born to rule, and some to advise. The chief is the chief all the world over, only not his cap and plume. It is only this dislike of the pretender which makes men sometimes unjust to the true and finished man.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-must-have-kings-we-must-have-nobles-nature-is-always-providing/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_advise_we-must-have-kings-we-must-have-nobles-n_834138.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_advise_we-must-have-kings-we-must-have-nobles-n_834138.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_advise_we-must-have-kings-we-must-have-nobles-n_834138.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“We must have kings, we must have nobles; nature is always providing such in every society; only let us have…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-is-someone-who-will-inspire-us-to-be-what-we-know-we/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-is-someone-who-will-inspi_1682799.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-is-someone-who-will-inspi_1682799.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-is-someone-who-will-inspi_1682799.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Our chief want in life, is, someone who shall make us do what we can. This is the service of a friend. With him we are easily great.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-in-life-is-someone-who-shall-make-us-do-what-we-can/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-someone-who-sh_1866824.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-someone-who-sh_1866824.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-someone-who-sh_1866824.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Our chief want in life, is, someone who shall make us do what we can. This is the service of a friend. With…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 6,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-shall-make-us-do-what-we-can/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-s_2933651.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-s_2933651.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_chief_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-s_2933651.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/",
            "name": "Chief Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_achievement_our-chief-want-in-life-is-somebody-who-w_524710.png"
            },
            "description": "6 Chief quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Plus more from Ralph Waldo Emerson and more Chief sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Chief",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief/ralph-waldo-emerson/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```