Literature is the effort of man to indemnify himself for the wrongs of his condition. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Things have their laws as well as men, and things refuse to be trifled with. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The soul of God is poured into the world through the thoughts of men. — 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
There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Science always goes abreast with the just elevation of the man, keeping step with religion and metaphysics; or, the state of science… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We do not want actions, but men; not a chemical drop of water, but rain; the spirit that sheds and showers actions,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I see that sensible men and conscientious men all over the world were of one religion of well-doing and daring. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of the cities, nor the crops – no, but the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is no prosperity, trade, art, city, or great material wealth of any kind, but if you trace it home, you will… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for the deliverance from fear. It is… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The cheapness of man is every day's tragedy. It is as real a loss that others should be low, as that we… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What is life but the angle of vision? A man is measured by the angle at which he looks at objects. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins. We parry and fend the approach of our… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
We early arrive at the great discovery that there is one mind common to all individual men: that what is individual is… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I would put myself in the attitude to look in the eye an abstract truth, and I cannot. I blench and withdraw… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
In different hours, a man represents each of several of his ancestors, as if there were seven or eight of us rolled… — 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
It is not an arbitrary "decree of God," but in the nature of man, that a veil shuts down on the facts… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
This very certain that each man carries in his eye the exact indication of his rank in the immense scale of men,… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The private life of one man shall be a more illustrious monarchy,--more formidable to its enemy, more sweet and serene in its… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. 'Tis… — 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
Explore, and explore, and explore. Be neither chided nor flattered out of your position of perpetual inquiry. Neither dogmatise yourself, nor accept… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
...most men have bound their eyes with one or another handkerchief, and attached themselves to some one of these communities of opinion.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The soul comes from without into the human body, as into a temporary abode, and it goes out of it anew it… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being? There are men, who, by their sympathetic attractions, carry nations… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Society is an illusion to the young citizen. It lies before him in rigid repose, with certain names, men, and institutions, rootedlike… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The charming landscape which I saw this morning is indubitably made up of some twenty or thirty farms. Miller owns this field,… — 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