--- title: "9 Finished Quotes By Ralph Waldo Emerson" description: "9 Finished quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Plus more from Ralph Waldo Emerson and more Finished sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finishe_1043080.png" --- > [The wise man, the true friend, the finished character, we seek everywhere, and only find in fragments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finished-character-we-seek/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finishe_1043080.png) > [The finished man of the world must eat of every apple once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-of-every-apple-once/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_apple_the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-o_501347.png) > [The flowering of civilization is the finished man, the man of sense, of grace, of accomplishment, of social power--the gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-finished-man-the-man-of-sense-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-fin_191259.png) > [A seashell should be the crest of England, not only because it represents a power built on the waves, but also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-seashell-should-be-the-crest-of-england-not-only-because-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_built_a-seashell-should-be-the-crest-of-englan_2394762.png) > [The finished man of the world must eat of every apple at once. He must hold his hatreds also at arm's length,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-of-every-apple-at-once-he-must/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_apples_the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-o_2586459.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) > [It is a mischievous notion that we are come late into nature; that the world was finished a long time ago. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-a-mischievous-notion-that-we-are-come-late-into-nature-that-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_attributes_it-is-a-mischievous-notion-that-we-are-c_568273.jpg) > [Very few of our race can be said to be yet finished men. We still carry sticking to us some remains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/very-few-of-our-race-can-be-said-to-be-yet-finished-men-we-still/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engaged_very-few-of-our-race-can-be-said-to-be-y_144014.png) > [Self Esteem::"It is very easy in the world to live by the opinion of the world. It is very easy in solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world-to-live-by-the-opinion-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benches_self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world_1406807.jpg) ## Other authors on Finished ## 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/finished/ralph-waldo-emerson/#itemlist", "name": "9 Finished Quotes By Ralph Waldo Emerson", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The wise man, the true friend, the finished character, we seek everywhere, and only find in fragments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finished-character-we-seek/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finishe_1043080.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finishe_1043080.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-wise-man-the-true-friend-the-finishe_1043080.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The wise man, the true friend, the finished character, we seek everywhere, and only find in fragments.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The finished man of the world must eat of every apple once.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-of-every-apple-once/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_apple_the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-o_501347.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_apple_the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-o_501347.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_apple_the-finished-man-of-the-world-must-eat-o_501347.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The finished man of the world must eat of every apple once.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The flowering of civilization is the finished man, the man of sense, of grace, of accomplishment, of social power--the gentleman.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-finished-man-the-man-of-sense-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-fin_191259.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-fin_191259.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_the-flowering-of-civilization-is-the-fin_191259.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The flowering of civilization is the finished man, the man of sense, of grace, of accomplishment, of social…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A seashell should be the crest of England, not only because it represents a power built on the waves, but also the hard finish ofthe men. 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As the world was plastic and fluid in the hands of God, so it is ever to so much of his attributes as we bring to it. To ignorance and sin, it is flint. 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I knew a man of simple habits and earnest character who never put out his hands nor opened his lips to court the public, and having survived several rotten reputations of younger men, honor came at last and sat down with him upon his private bench from which he had never stirred.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world-to-live-by-the-opinion-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benches_self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world_1406807.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benches_self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world_1406807.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_benches_self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world_1406807.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Self Esteem::\"It is very easy in the world to live by the opinion of the world. 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