Baskets Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may well call it black diamonds. Every basket is power and civilization. For coal is a portable climate.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Wealth, The Conduct of Life, Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1860
Coal, buried for ages, is brought up by workers like valuable treasure. Each basket of coal powers civilization, acting as portable warmth and energy.
In simple terms: Coal is a hidden treasure that brings power and warmth to civilization.
Key Takeaway
Value the labor and resources that fuel progress.
Themes
energy
civilization
labor
industry
natural resources
progress
Mood
appreciative
grand
historical
Type
essay
reflective
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- discussions of energy history
- appreciating infrastructure
- writing about industrialization
Key Concepts
transformation
human ingenuity
portable energy
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden resources power your daily life?
- How should we honor the workers behind energy?
A Different Perspective
Coal's environmental costs complicate its celebration as pure progress and civilization.
