Circumstance does not make the man. Circumstance reveals man to himself. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The man (or woman) who can make hard things easy is the educator. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Let not the author eat up the man, so that he shall be all balcony and no house. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In America the geography is sublime, but the men are not; the inventions are excellent, but the inventors one is sometimes ashamed… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A man in the view of absolute goodness, adores, with total humility. Every step downward, is a step upward. The man who… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The pleasure of life is according to the man that lives it, and not according to the work or place. — 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
The peace of the man who has forsworn the use of the bullet seems to me not quite peace, but a canting… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
To the men of this world, to the animal strength and spirits, to the men of practical power, whilst immersed in it,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
If the gatherer gathers too-much, Nature takes out of the man what she puts into his chest; swells the estate, but kills… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
When the man is at home, his standing in society is well known and quietly taken; but when he is abroad, it… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But the man and woman of seventy assume to know all, they have outlived their hope, they renounce aspiration, accept the actual… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I knew a witty physician who found theology in the biliary duct, and used to affirm that if there was a disease… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
If the aristocrat is only valid in fashionable circles, and not with truckmen, he will never be a leader in fashion; and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is the same among the men and women, as among the silent trees; always a referred existence, an absence, never a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every act of the man inscribes itself in the memories of his fellows, and in his own manners and face. The air… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The mark of the man of the world is absence of pretension. He does not make a speech; he takes a low… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There are geniuses in trade as well as in war, or the state, or letters; and the reason why this or that… — 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
The right merchant is one who has the just average of faculties we call common sense; a man of a strong affinity… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The moment the doctrine of the immortality is separately taught, man is already fallen. In the flowing of love, in the adoration… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There never was a strong character that was not made strong by discipline of the will; there never was a strong people… — 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
Our culture, therefore, must not omit the arming of the man. Let him hear in season, that he is born into the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Physical force has no value, where there is nothing else. Snow in snow-banks, fire in volcanoes and solfataras is cheap. The luxury… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The true thrift is always to spend on the higher plane; to invest and invest, with keener avarice, that he may spend… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Consider what you have in the smallest well-chosen library-a company of the wisest and wittiest men which can be plucked out of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The man for whom the law exists - the man of forms, the conservative - is a tame man. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
As soon as the man is at one with God, he will not beg. He will then see prayer in all action. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The machine unmakes the man. Now that the machine is so perfect, the engineer is nobody. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There are eyes, to be sure, that give no more admission into the man than blueberries. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The flowering of civilization is the finished man, the man of sense, of grace, of accomplishment, of social power--the gentleman. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A seashell should be the crest of England, not only because it represents a power built on the waves, but also the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The men who come on the stage at one period are all found to be related to each other. Certain ideas are… — 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