--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man passes for that he is worth. What…" description: "\"A man passes for that he is worth. What he is engraves itself on his face, on his form, on his fortunes, in letters of light. Concealment avails him no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_boast_a-man-passes-for-that-he-is-worth-what-h_1195921.png" --- # A man passes for that he is worth. What he is engraves… ![“A man passes for that he is worth. What he is engraves itself on his face, on his form, on his fortunes, in letters of light. Concealment avails him nothing; boasting nothing. There is confession in the glances of our eyes; in our smiles; in salutations; and the grasp of hands.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_boast_a-man-passes-for-that-he-is-worth-what-h_1195921.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_boast_a-man-passes-for-that-he-is-worth-what-h_1195921.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_boast_a-man-passes-for-that-he-is-worth-what-h_1195921.png) > “A man passes for that he is worth. What he is engraves itself on his face, on his form, on his fortunes, in letters of light. Concealment avails him nothing; boasting nothing. There is confession in the glances of our eyes; in our smiles; in salutations; and the grasp of hands.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One's true worth is reflected in outward appearance and actions; concealment and boasting are futile, while genuine expression appears in eyes, smiles, and gestures. **In simple terms:** True worth shows in behavior, not words. Key Takeaway Live authentically; let actions speak. Themes authenticity self‑expression integrity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal interactions - leadership - public speaking - artistic performance Key Concepts philosophy self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What does your face reveal about you? - How can you align inner values with outward actions? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on appearance may ignore inner qualities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boast/) [Concealment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealment/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Engrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engrave/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Salutations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salutations/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Every man passes his life in the search after friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-passes-his-life-in-the-search-after-friendship/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [after a man passes 60 , his mischief is mainly in his head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/after-a-man-passes-60-his-mischief-is-mainly-in-his-head/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A young man passes from our public schools to the universities, ignorant almost of the elements of every branch of useful knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/a-young-man-passes-from-our-public-schools-to-the-universities/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [Having achieved and accomplished love, then the man passes into the unknown. He has become himself, his tale is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/having-achieved-and-accomplished-love-then-the-man-passes-into-the/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [He who fails to please in his salutation and address is at once rejected, and never obtains an opportunity of showing his latest excellences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-who-fails-to-please-in-his-salutation-and-address-is-at-once/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Sadly, a prize for peace is a rarity in this world. Most nations have monuments or memorials to war, bronze salutations to heroic battles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sadly-a-prize-for-peace-is-a-rarity-in-this-world-most-nations-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As a man's salutations, so is the total of his character; in nothing do we lay ourselves so open as in our manner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/as-a-man-s-salutations-so-is-the-total-of-his-character-in-nothing-do/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Friends and relations; Send salutations; Just as sure as the stars shine above; This is Christmas, Christmas my dear; The time of year to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-and-relations-send-salutations-just-as-sure-as-the-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Salutations; it's just my fancy way of saying hello or good morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/salutations-it-s-just-my-fancy-way-of-saying-hello-or-good-morning/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [A short letter to a distant friend is, in my opinion, an insult like that of a slight bow or cursory salutation - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-short-letter-to-a-distant-friend-is-in-my-opinion-an-insult-like/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The Greeks adored their gods by the simple compliment of kissing their hands; and the Romans were treated as atheists if they would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-greeks-adored-their-gods-by-the-simple-compliment-of-kissing/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-lid-sa/today-well-lived-makes-every-yesterday-a-dream-of-happiness/) [Kalidasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-lid-sa/) > [May I just single out for salutations, on the "anti-war" side: Pop Stars For Appeasement, Dancers Against Democracy, Actors For Apathy, Fashionistas For Fascism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/may-i-just-single-out-for-salutations-on-the-anti-war-side-pop-stars/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Children, daily practice of yoga or sun salutations (surya-namaskara) is very good for health and for spiritual practice. Lack of proper exercise is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/children-daily-practice-of-yoga-or-sun-salutations-surya-namaskara-is/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [O Cyrus , great King, King of Kings, Achaemenian King, King of the land of Iran. I, the Shahanshah of Iran, offer thee salutations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/o-cyrus-great-king-king-of-kings-achaemenian-king-king-of-the-land-of/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Boast quotes > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/further-conceive-i-beg-that-a-stone-while-continuing-in-motion-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“in other words, his story was part boast, part confession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-other-words-his-story-was-part-boast-part-confession/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [We are not saints, but we have kept our appointment. How many people can boast as much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-are-not-saints-but-we-have-kept-our-appointment-how-many-people/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Boast is always a cry of despair, except in the young it is a cry of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/boast-is-always-a-cry-of-despair-except-in-the-young-it-is-a-cry-of/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [“A classic is read not to enjoy but only to be boast about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/a-classic-is-read-not-to-enjoy-but-only-to-be-boast-about-it/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [Buonaparte has often made his boast that our fleet would be worn out by keeping the sea and that his was kept in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/buonaparte-has-often-made-his-boast-that-our-fleet-would-be-worn-out/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Wisdom can boast no higher attainment than happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/wisdom-can-boast-no-higher-attainment-than-happiness/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [But thou art fair, and at thy birth, dear boy, Nature and Fortune join'd to make thee great: Of Nature's gifts thou mayst with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-thou-art-fair-and-at-thy-birth-dear-boy-nature-and-fortune-join-d/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Science appears but what in truth she is, Not as our glory and our absolute boast, But as a succedaneum, and a prop To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/science-appears-but-what-in-truth-she-is-not-as-our-glory-and-our/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [It has, therefore, been a favorite boast of the people of Wales and Cornwall, that the original British stock flourishes in its unmixed purity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bulfinch/it-has-therefore-been-a-favorite-boast-of-the-people-of-wales-and/) [Thomas Bulfinch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bulfinch/) > [Boasting is only a masked shame; it does not truly believe in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/boasting-is-only-a-masked-shame-it-does-not-truly-believe-in-itself/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) [Browse all 567 Boast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boast/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man passes for that he is worth. 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