Nature and literature are subjective phenomena; every evil and every good thing is a shadow which we cast — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Converse with a mind that is grandly simple, and literature looks like word-catching. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Literature is the effort of man to indemnify himself for the wrongs of his condition. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every man is a borrower and a mimic, life is theatrical and literature a quotation. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Our high respect for a well-read man is praise enough for literature. - Ralph Waldo Emerson — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Society has really no graver interest than the well-being of the literary class. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What is well done, I feel as if I did; what is ill-done, I reck not of. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We must not inquire too curiously into the absolute value of literature. Enough that it amuses and exercises us. At least it… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In the right hands, literature is not resorted to as a consolation, and by the broken and decayed, but as a decalogue. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It has come to be practically a sort of rule in literature that a man, having once shown himself capable of original… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Our day of dependence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close. The millions, that around us… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In talking with scholars, I observe that they lost on ruder companions those years of boyhood which alone could give imaginative literature… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Proverbs are the literature of reason, or the statements of absolute truth, without qualification. Like the sacred books of each nation, they… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Is all literature eavesdropping, and all art Chinese imitation? our life a custom, and our body borrowed, like a beggar’s dinner, from… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The permanence of all books is fixed by no effort friendly or hostile, but by their own specific gravity, or the intrinsic… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Converse with a mind that is grandly simple, and literature looks like word-catching. The simplest utterances are worthiest to bewritten, yet are… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Religious literature has eminent examples, and if we run over our private list of poets, critics, philanthropists and philosophers, we shall find… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Expediency of literature, reason of literature, lawfulness of writing down a thought, is questioned; much is to say on both sides,and, while… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The use of literature is to afford us a platform whence we may command a view of our present life, a purchase… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Society is the stage on which manners are shown; novels are the literature. Novels are the journal or record of manners; and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Spurious prudence, making the senses final, is the god of sots and cowards, and is the subject of all comedy. It is… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But, if we explore the literature of Heroism, we shall quickly come to Plutarch, who is its Doctor and historian. To him… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Our high respect for a well-read man is praise enough of literature — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A mind might ponder its thought for an epoch, and not gain so much self-knowledge as the passion of love shall teach… — 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
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
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 Image
