Age Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“But I cannot recite, even thus rudely, laws of the intellect, without remembering that lofty and sequestered class of men who have been its prophets and oracles, the high-priesthood of the pure reason, the Trismegisti, the expounders of the principles of thought from age to age.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Poet" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844
Intellect’s foundations are shaped by a lineage of profound thinkers, the “high priesthood” of pure reason, whose teachings persist across ages.
In simple terms: Great minds guide our thinking.
Study classic philosophy.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reflection
- teaching
- writing
- debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor intellectual tradition?
- What modern ideas replace old doctrines?
Modern science challenges some ancient assumptions.