Only an inventor knows how to borrow, and every man is or should be an inventor. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
For what are they all in their high conceit, When man in the bush with God may meet? — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The arts and inventions of each period are only its costume, and do not invigorate men. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Among the map makers of each generation are the risk takers, those who see the opportunities, seize the moment and expand man's… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The eyes of men converse as much as their tongues, with the advantage that the ocular dialect needs no dictionary, but is… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A sympathetic person is placed in the dilemma of a swimmer among drowning men, who all catch at him, and if he… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Man is the broken giant, and in all his weakness both his body and his mind are invigorated by habits of conversation… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Valor consists in the power of self-recovery, so that a man cannot have his flank turned, cannot be out-generalled, but put him… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The whole value of history, of biography, is to increase my self-trust, by demonstrating what man can be and do. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every man's condition is a solution in hieroglyph to those inquiries he would put. He acts it as life before he apprehends… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The near explains the far. The drop is a small ocean. A man is related to all nature. This perception of the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A feeble man can see the farms that are fenced and tilled, the houses that are built. The strong man sees the… — 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
A state of war or anarchy, in which law has little force, is so far valuable, that it puts every man on… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I believe it is the conviction of the purest men, that the net amount of man and man does not much vary.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Conservatism stands on man's confessed limitations; reform on his indisputable infinitude; conservatism on circumstance; liberalism on power; one goes to make an… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Can rules or tutors educate The semigod whom we await? He must be musical, Tremulous, impressional, Alive to gentle influence Of landscape… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A more secret, sweet, and overpowering beauty appears to man when his heart and mind open to the sentiment of virtue. Then… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We have feudal governments in a commercial age. It would be but an easy extension of our commercial system, to pay a… — 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
At times the whole world seems to be in conspiracy to importune you with emphatic trifles. Friend, client, child, sickness, fear, want,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature is no sentimentalist, - does not cosset or pamper us. We must see that the world is rough and surly, and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Men of extraordinary success, in their honest moments, have always sung, "Not unto us, not unto us." According to the faith of… — 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
Will is the measure of power. To a great genius there must be a great will. If the thought is not a… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I have heard that whoever loves is in no condition old. I have heard that whenever the name of man is spoken,… — 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