Action Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Criticism is infested with the cant of materialism, which assumes that manual skill and activity is the first merit of all men, and disparages such as say and do not, overlooking the fact, that some men, namely, poets, are natural sayers, sent into the world to the end of expression, and confounds them with those whose province is action, but who quit to imitate the sayers.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
Emerson critiques the bias that values manual labor over artistic expression, arguing that poets have a natural role in expressing truth.
In simple terms: Artistic expression is as valuable as physical work.
Key Takeaway
Respect both creators and doers equally.
Themes
art
expression
value
creativity
labor
Mood
thoughtful
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- education
- literary criticism
- career counseling
- public policy
- cultural appreciation
Key Concepts
individualism
aesthetic philosophy
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance appreciation for physical and artistic contributions?
- What biases affect our valuation of work?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize the worth of different professions.
