---
title: "12 Foundation Quotes By Ralph Waldo Emerson"
description: "12 Foundation quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Plus more from Ralph Waldo Emerson and more Foundation sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-foundation-of-culture-as-of-characte_1211654.png"
---

> [The foundation of culture, as of character, is at last the moral sentiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-foundation-of-culture-as-of-character-is-at-last-the-moral/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_character_the-foundation-of-culture-as-of-characte_1211654.png)

> [The foundations of a person are not in matter but in spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-foundations-of-a-person-are-not-in-matter-but-in-spirit/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_foundation_the-foundations-of-a-person-are-not-in-m_757624.png)

> [The beautiful rests on the foundations of the necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-beautiful-rests-on-the-foundations-of-the-necessary/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af3/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beautiful_the-beautiful-rests-on-the-foundations-o_1929241.png)

> [I am present at the sowing of the seed of the world. With a geometry of sunbeams, the soul lays the foundations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-present-at-the-sowing-of-the-seed-of-the-world-with-a-geometry/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_foundation_i-am-present-at-the-sowing-of-the-seed-o_220929.png)

> [But in every constitution some large degree of animal vigor is necessary as material foundation for the higher qualities of the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/but-in-every-constitution-some-large-degree-of-animal-vigor-is/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_but-in-every-constitution-some-large-deg_761834.png)

> [In strict science, all persons underlie the same condition of an infinite remoteness. Shall we fear to cool our love by mining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-strict-science-all-persons-underlie-the-same-condition-of-an/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_alienation_in-strict-science-all-persons-underlie-t_2008242.png)

> [What is the foundation of that interest all men feel in Greek history, letters, art, and poetry, in all its periods, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-is-the-foundation-of-that-interest-all-men-feel-in-greek-history/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_age_what-is-the-foundation-of-that-interest_495835.jpg)

> [The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-poet-needs-a-ground-in-popular-tradition-on-which-he-may-work-and/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_the-poet-needs-a-ground-in-popular-tradi_956807.jpg)

> [Thought and knowledge are natures in which apparatus and pretension avail nothing. Gowns, and pecuniary foundations, though of towns of gold, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/thought-and-knowledge-are-natures-in-which-apparatus-and-pretension/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_american-scholar_thought-and-knowledge-are-natures-in-whi_545149.png)

> [Speak as you think, be what you are, pay your debts of all kinds. I prefer to be owned as sound and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/speak-as-you-think-be-what-you-are-pay-your-debts-of-all-kinds-i/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_advice_speak-as-you-think-be-what-you-are-pay-y_1750504.png)

> [Every individual nature has its own beauty. One is struck in every company, at every fireside, with the riches of nature, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-individual-nature-has-its-own-beauty-one-is-struck-in-every/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beauty_every-individual-nature-has-its-own-beau_275202.png)

> [I am not engaged to Christianity by decent forms, or saving ordinances; it is not usage, it is not what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-not-engaged-to-christianity-by-decent-forms-or-saving-ordinances/)

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

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accord_i-am-not-engaged-to-christianity-by-dece_1187725.jpg)

## Other authors on Foundation

## 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/)

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                        "text": "Speak as you think, be what you are, pay your debts of all kinds. I prefer to be owned as sound and solvent, and my word as good as my bond, and to be what cannot be skipped, or dissipated, or undermined, to all the eclat in the universe. This reality is the foundation of friendship, religion, poetry, and art.",
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                        "text": "Every individual nature has its own beauty. One is struck in every company, at every fireside, with the riches of nature, when he hears so many new tones, all musical, sees in each person original manners, which have a proper and peculiar charm, and reads new expressions of face. He perceives that nature has laid for each the foundations of a divine building, if the soul will build thereon.",
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                        "text": "I am not engaged to Christianity by decent forms, or saving ordinances; it is not usage, it is not what I do not understand, that binds me to it -- let these be the sandy foundations of falsehoods. What I revere and obey in it is its reality, its boundless charity, its deep interior life, the rest it gives to my mind, the echo it returns to my thoughts, the perfect accord it makes with my reason through all its representation of God and His Providence; and the persuasion and courage that come out thence to lead me upward and onward.",
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