The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every vice is only an exaggeration of a necessary and virtuous function. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There is genius as well in virtue as in intellect. 'Tis the doctrine of faith over works. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Beauty is the mark God sets on virtue. Every natural action is graceful; every heroic act is also decent, and causes the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I think the vice of our housekeeping is that it does not hold man sacred. The vice of government, the vice of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.[What is a sorrow? A feeling whose benefits have not… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
He who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, the plants, the waters, the heavens, and how to come at… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Our globe discovers its bidden virtues, not only in heroes and arch-angels, but in gossips and nurses. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Every great institution is the lengthened shadow of a single man. His character determines the character of the organization. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Prudence is the virtue of the senses. It is the science of appearances. It is the outmost action of the inward life. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Why all this deference to Alfred, and Scanderbeg, and Gustavus? Suppose they were virtuous; did they wear out virtue?” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Christianity taught the capacity, the element, to love the All-perfect without a stingy bargain for personal happiness. It taught that to love… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
It is plain that there is no separate essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The Soul rules over matter. Matter may pass away like a mote in the sunbeam, may be absorbed into the immensity of… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The virtue of art lies in detachment, in sequestering one object from the embarrassing variety. Until one thing comes out from theconnection… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The sentiment of virtue is a reverence and delight in the presence of certain divine laws. It perceives that this homely game… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The heroic soul does not sell its justice and its nobleness. It does not ask to dine nicely and to sleep warm.… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Why should all virtue work in one and the same way? Why should all give dollars? It is very inconvenient to us… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
For, the advantages which fashion values, are plants which thrive in very confined localities, in a few streets, namely. Out of this… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Is it not manifest that our academic institutions should have a wider scope; that they should not be timid and keep the… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Tobacco, coffee, alcohol, hashish, prussic acid, strychnine, are weak dilutions; the surest poison is time. This cup which nature puts to our… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“The soul is no traveller; the wise man stays at home, and when his necessities, his duties, on any occasion call him… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Eloquence shows the power and possibility of man. There is one of whom we took no note, but on a certain occasion… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
I hear therefore with joy whatever is beginning to be said of the dignity and necessity of labor to every citizen. There… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
What a benefit would the American government, not yet relieved of its extreme need, render to itself, and to every city, village… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
There never was a strong character that was not made strong by discipline of the will; there never was a strong people… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The cruelest foe is a masked benefactor. The wars which make history so dreary have served the cause of truth and virtue. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Open the doors of opportunity to talent and virtue and they will do themselves justice, and property will not be in bad… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
A life in harmony with nature, the love of truth and virtue, will purge the eyes to understanding her text. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Virtue alone is sweet society, It keeps the key to all heroic hearts, And opens you a welcome in them all. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
By virtue of the Deity thought renews itself inexhaustibly every day and the thing whereon it shines, though it were dust and… — 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. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The virtue you would like to have, assume it is already yours, appropriate it, enter into the part and live the character… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
“Honor is venerable to us because it is no ephemeris. It is always ancient virtue. We worship it today because it is… — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
Virtue runs before the muse, and defies her skill; she is rapt and doth refuse to wait a painter's will. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Copy Share Image
The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by… — 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