Able Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Our desires presage the capacities within us; they are harbingers of what we shall be able to accomplish. What we can do and want to do is projected in our imagination, quite outside ourselves, and into the future. We are attracted to what is already ours in secret. Thus passionate anticipation transforms what is indeed possible into dreamt-for reality.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
Our inner desires forecast our future abilities; imagination projects what we can achieve, turning potential into reality through passionate anticipation.
In simple terms: Desires hint at future abilities; imagination makes them real.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate clear aspirations and act on them.
Themes
self‑actualization
imagination
potential
anticipation
Mood
hopeful
inspired
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- goal setting
- career planning
- creative projects
- personal development
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden talents could your desires reveal?
- How can you test if a desire is feasible?
A Different Perspective
Desires may be unrealistic, leading to disappointment if not grounded.
