Genius, even, as it is the greatest good, is he greatest harm. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The miracles of genius always rest on profound convictions which refuse to be analyzed. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Intellect is a fire; rash and pitiless it melts this wonderful bone-house which is called man. Genius even, as it is the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The civility of the world has reached that pitch that their more moral genius is becoming indispensable, and the quality of this… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
So much of our time is preparation, so much is routine, and so much retrospect, that the path of each man's genius… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Solitude, the safeguard of mediocrity, is to genius, the stern friend, the cold, obscure shelter where moult the wings which will bear… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is genius as well in virtue as in intellect. 'Tis the doctrine of faith over works. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is a genius of a nation, which is not to be found in the numerical citizens, but which characterizes the society. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Genius is always sufficiently the enemy of genius by over influence. The literature of every nation bear me witness. The English dramatic… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each one a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Never mind the ridicule, never mind the defeat: up again, old heart!-it seems to say,-there is victory yet for all justice; and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The dogma of the mystic offices of Christ being dropped, and he standing on his genius as a moral teacher, 'tis impossible… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The most attractive class of people are those who are powerful obliquely, and not by the direct stroke: men of genius, but… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Universities are of course hostile to geniuses, which, seeing and using ways of their own, discredit the routine: as churches and monasteries… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Herein is the explanation of the analogies, which exist in all the arts. They are the re-appearance of one mind, working in… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I am at a loss to understand why people hold Miss Austen's novels at so high a rate, which seem to me… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them. It depends on the mood of the man, whether he shall see… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I read the other day some verses written by an eminent painter which were original and not conventional. The soul always hears… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Society will pardon much to genius and special gifts; but, being in its nature conventional, it loves what is conventional, or what… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Genius is the power to labor better and more availably. Deserve thy genius: exalt it. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Two sorts of writers possess genius: those who think, and those who cause others to think. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each once a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The difference between Talent and Genius is that Talent says things which he has never heard but once, and Genius things which… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What is it men love in Genius, but its infinite hope, which degrades all it has done? Genius counts all its miracles… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The young man reveres men of genius, because, to speak truly, they are more himself than he is. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The difference between talent and genius is in the direction of the current: in genius, it is from within outward; in talent… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But genius looks forward: the eyes of men are set in his forehead, not in his hindhead: man hopes: genius creates. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Genius has infused itself into nature. It indicates itself by a small excess of good, a small balance in brute facts always… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We are as much informed of a writer's genius by what he selects as by what he originates. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Colleges, in like manner, have their indispensable office,--to teach elements. But they can only highly serve us, when they aim not to… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Talent finds its models, methods, and ends in society, exists for exhibition, and goes to the soul only for power to work.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Genius is the naturalist or geographer of the supersensible regions, and draws their map; and, by acquainting us with new fields of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The genius of reading and of gardening are antagonistic, like resinous and vitreous electricity. One is concentrative in sparks and shocks: the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What has been done in the world - the works of genius - cost nothing. There is no painful effort, but it… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Englands genius filled all measureOf heart and soul, of strength and pleasure,Gave to the mind its emperor,And life was larger than before:Nor… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is easy to see that what is best written or done by genius in the world, was no man's work but… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and… — 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
