The philanthropists inquire whether Transcendentalism does not mean sloth: they had as lief hear that their friend is dead, as that he… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Few and mean as my gifts may be, I actually am, and do not need for my own assurance or the assurance… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The growth of the intellect is spontaneous in every expansion. The mind that grows could not predict the times, the means, the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Coal is a portable climate. It carries the heat of the tropics to Labrador and the polar circle; and it is the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I do not know what arguments mean in reference to any expression of a thought. I delight in telling what I think;… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Character is an invincible force, which acts by presence and without means — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Be sure then to read no mean books. Shun the spawn of the press on the gossip of the hour. Do not… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In our definitions, we grope after the spiritual by describing it as invisible. The true meaning of spiritual is real; that law… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
One more royal trait properly belongs to the poet. I mean his cheerfulness, without which no man can be a poet,--for beauty… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Prayer that craves a particular commodity—anything less than all good, is vicious. Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
All ages of belief have been great; all of unbelief have been mean. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We ascribe beauty to that which is simple; which has no superfluous parts; which exactly answers its end; which stands related to… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
As the farmer casts into the ground the finest ears of his grain, the time will come when we too shall hold… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
He who does a good deed is instantly ennobled. He who does a mean deed is by the action itself contracted. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We know who is benevolent, by quite other means than the amount of subscriptions to soup-societies. It is only low merits that… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is the duty of men to judge men only by their actions. Our faculties furnish us with no means of arriving… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
To say then, the majority are wicked, means no malice, no bad heart in the observer, but, simply that the majority are… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The simplest words,--we do not know what they mean except when we love and aspire. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is a mortifying experience in particular, which does not fail to wreak itself also in the general history; I mean "the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Sanity consists in not being subdued by your means. Fancy prices are paid for position, and for the culture of talent, but… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Hume's doctrine was that the circumstances vary, the amount of happiness does not; that the beggar cracking fleas in the sunshine under… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Do you love me? Means at last do you see the same truth I see? If you do, we are happy together;… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nothing in nature is exhausted in its first use...In God, every end is converted into a new means. — 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
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
Standing on the bare ground,--my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space,--all mean egotism vanishes. I become a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Most of the great results of history are brought about by discreditable means. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We call the beautiful the highest, because it appears to us the golden mean, escaping the dowdiness of the good and the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It must be that when God speaketh, he should communicate, not one thing, but all things; should fill the world with his… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Fear is cruel and mean. The political reigns of terror have been reigns of madness and malignity,--a total perversion of opinion;society is… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Under the dominion of an idea, which possesses the minds of multitudes, as civil freedom, or the religious sentiment, the power ofpersons… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit cannot be severed; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
An expense of ends to means is fate;Morganization tyrannizing over character. The menagerie, or forms and powers of the spine, is a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The things taught in schools & colleges are not an education but the means of education. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is a blessed necessity by which the interest of men is always driving them to the right; and, again, making all… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The world-spirit is a good swimmer, and storms and waves can not drown him. He snaps his fingers at laws; and so,… — 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
