The greatest difficulty is that men do not think enough of themselves, do not consider what it is that they are sacrificing… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
he who should inspire and lead his race must be defended from travelling with the souls of other men, from living, breathing,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The sinew and heart of man seem to be drawn out, and we are become timorous desponding whimperers. We are afraid of… — 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
All men are in some degree impressed by the face of the world; some men even to delight. This love of beauty… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
For you, o broker, there is no other principle but arithmetic. For me, commerce is of trivial import; love, faith, truth of… — 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
The aspect of nature is devout. Like the figure of Jesus, she stands with bended head, and hands folded upon the breast.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Only by the supernatural is a man strong--only by confiding in the divinity which stirs within us. Nothing is so weak as… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The corruption of man is followed by the corruption of language. ... In due time, the fraud is manifest, and words lose… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is easy to see that a greater self-reliance must work a revolution in all the offices and relations of men; in… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I find the Englishman to be him of all men who stands firmest in his shoes. They have in themselves what they… — 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
We are always getting ready to live, but never living... The wave moves onward but the particles of which it is composed… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
And dazzling memory revive.Refresh the faded tints, Recut the aged prints, And write my old adventures, with the pen Which, on the… — 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
Men are so charmed with valor that they have pleased themselves with being called lions, leopards, eagles and dragons, from the animals… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Man was born to be rich, or grow rich by use of his faculties, by the union of thought with nature. Property… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Egotism is a kind of buckram that gives momentary strength and concentration to men, and seems to be much used in Nature… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
When a man becomes cultivated, he develops a new respect for who he is. This causes him to be ashamed of his… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
War educates the senses, calls into action the will, perfects the physical constitution, brings men into such swift and close collision in… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Society gains nothing whilst a man, not himself renovated, attempts to renovate things around him; he has become tediously good insome particular… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The finished man of the world must eat of every apple at once. He must hold his hatreds also at arm's length,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Nature forever puts a premium on reality. What is done for effect is seen to be done for effect; what is done… — 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
One lesson we learn early, that in spite of seeming difference, men are all of one pattern. We readily assume this with… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The pulpit and the press have many commonplaces denouncing the thirst for wealth, but if men should take these moralists at their… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
History no longer shall be a dull book. It shall walk incarnate in every just and wise man. You shall not tell… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I am primarily engaged to myself to be a public servant of all the gods, to demonstrate to all men that there… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every man has a choice between love of truth and love of repose. Love of repose brings him a solid reputation and… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
To educate the wise man, the State exists; and with the appearance of the wise man, the State expires. The appearance of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The Good Spirit never cared for the colleges, and though all men and boys were now drilled in Greek, Latin, and Mathematics,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The Roman rule was, to teach a boy nothing that he could not learn standing. The old English rule was, "All summer… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
When its errands are noble and adequate, a steamboat bridging the Atlantic between Old and New England, and arriving at its ports… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The greatest delight the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. I am… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Life is girt all round with a zodiac of sciences, the contributions of men who have perished to add their point of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Man is a shrewd inventor, and is ever taking the hint of a new machine from his own structure, adapting some secret… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Let us stun and astonish the intruding rabble of men and books and institutions by a simple declaration of the divine fact.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A man complained that on his way home to dinner he had every day to pass through that long field of his… — 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