Heard Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Some men's words I remember so well that I must often use them to express my thought. Yes, because I perceive that we have heard the same truth, but they have heard it better.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
We recall others' words because they capture truths we share, often more eloquently than we can.
In simple terms: We remember and use others' words that express shared truths.
Key Takeaway
Learn from others to articulate your thoughts.
Themes
communication
memory
truth
influence
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- debate
Key Concepts
rhetoric
cognitive psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Whose words shape your ideas?
- How do you improve on their expression?
A Different Perspective
Relying on others may limit original thinking.
![“When his father told him about his alarm at having forgotten even the most impressive happenings of his childhood, Aureliano explained his method to him […] with an inked brush he marked everything with its name: table, chair, clock, door, wall, bed, pan. He went to the corral and marked the…” quote by Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bf7/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez-116_every-morning_when-his-father-told-him-about-his-alarm_1307289.jpg)
