Certificates Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“If we could have any security against moods! If the profoundest prophet could be holden to his words, and the hearer who is readyto sell all and join the crusade, could have any certificate that to-morrow his prophet shall not unsay his testimony!”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Essays: First Series, 1841
Security against changing moods is impossible; prophets and followers cannot guarantee future consistency.
In simple terms: No one can guarantee future consistency.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty.
Themes
uncertainty
faith
prophecy
Mood
contemplative
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
- political discourse
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle changing moods?
- Can we trust any authority fully?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on certainty can lead to rigidity.
![“I have people that have been studying [Obama's birth certificate] and they cannot believe what they're finding... I would like to have him show his birth certificate, and can I be honest with you, I hope he can. Because if he can't, if he can't, if he wasn't born in this country, which is a real…” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4eb/donald-trump-18_being-honest_i-have-people-that-have-been-studying-ob_64831.jpg)
