--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Exaggeration is in the course of things…" description: "\"Exaggeration is in the course of things. Nature sends no creature, no man into the world, without adding a small excess of his proper quality. Given th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png" --- # Exaggeration is in the course of things. Nature sends no… ![“Exaggeration is in the course of things. Nature sends no creature, no man into the world, without adding a small excess of his proper quality. Given the planet, it is still necessary to add the impulse; so, to every creature nature added a little violence of direction in its proper path, a shove…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png) > “Exaggeration is in the course of things. Nature sends no creature, no man into the world, without adding a small excess of his proper quality. Given the planet, it is still necessary to add the impulse; so, to every creature nature added a little violence of direction in its proper path, a shove to put it on its way; in every instance, a slight generosity, a drop too much.” [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. Human nature includes a slight excess of each trait, pushing us toward our destiny. **In simple terms:** Everyone has a built‑in extra drive that guides them. Key Takeaway Recognize and harness your innate drive. Themes human nature drive destiny excess Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - creative projects - personal growth - overcoming inertia Key Concepts philosophy determinism motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does your “extra” influence your decisions? - Can you channel it positively? A Different Perspective Excess can lead to imbalance or unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Add](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Creature Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creature-nature-1808298/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration/) [Exaggeration is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration-is/) [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Impulse Creature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse-creature-2427387/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Sends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-sends-422077/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Sends Creature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sends-creature-2427388/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Nature never sends a great man into the planet, without confiding the secret to another soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-never-sends-a-great-man-into-the-planet-without-confiding-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Every vice is only an exaggeration of a necessary and virtuous function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-vice-is-only-an-exaggeration-of-a-necessary-and-virtuous/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There is no one who does not exaggerate!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-no-one-who-does-not-exaggerate/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Human nature means battling constantly between being completely self-absorbed and trying to be a communal creature. Nature makes you a communal creature. The ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/human-nature-means-battling-constantly-between-being-completely-self/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Exaggeration is a branch of lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/exaggeration-is-a-branch-of-lying/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It is human to exaggerate the merits of the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-human-to-exaggerate-the-merits-of-the-dead/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To a small man every greater is an exaggeration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-a-small-man-every-greater-is-an-exaggeration/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There are people so addicted to exaggeration that they actually can't tell the truth without lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-are-people-so-addicted-to-exaggeration-that-they-actually-can-t/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Exaggeration is the cheapest form of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/exaggeration-is-the-cheapest-form-of-humor/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Thought is a process of exaggeration. The refusal to exaggerate is not infrequently an alibi for the disinclination to think or praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/thought-is-a-process-of-exaggeration-the-refusal-to-exaggerate-is-not/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Alcohol is perfectly consistent in its effects upon man. Drunkenness is merely an exaggeration. A foolish man drunk becomes maudlin; a bloody man, vicious;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/alcohol-is-perfectly-consistent-in-its-effects-upon-man-drunkenness/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [It is the essence of truth that it is never excessive. Why should it exaggerate? There is that which should be destroyed and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/it-is-the-essence-of-truth-that-it-is-never-excessive-why-should-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [There's no disappointment in memory, and one's exaggerations are always on the good side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-s-no-disappointment-in-memory-and-one-s-exaggerations-are/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [It is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/it-is-only-a-short-step-from-exaggerating-what-we-can-find-in-the/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [It is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world. Expecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/it-is-only-a-short-step-from-exaggerating-what-we-can-find-in-the-2/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) ## 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 Add quotes > [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [A 'modern' man has nothing to add to modernism, if only because he has nothing to oppose it with. The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [I may add that we have more than once stated our willingness to conclude nonaggression pacts with the states neighboring our own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-may-add-that-we-have-more-than-once-stated-our-willingness-to/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Thirty days is just about the right amount of time to add a new habit or subtract a habit - like watching the news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cutts/thirty-days-is-just-about-the-right-amount-of-time-to-add-a-new-habit/) [Matt Cutts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cutts/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The Greeks said grandly in their tragic phrase, 'Let no one be called happy till his death;' to which I would add, 'Let no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-greeks-said-grandly-in-their-tragic-phrase-let-no-one-be-called/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Global is a unifying bond for people. Once they get outside their own heads and their own communities and see themselves in a broader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-calvin/global-is-a-unifying-bond-for-people-once-they-get-outside-their-own/) [Kathy Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-calvin/) [Browse all 2,710 Add quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Exaggeration is in the course of things. Nature sends no creature, no man into the world, without adding a small excess of his proper quality. Given the planet, it is still necessary to add the impulse; so, to every creature nature added a little violence of direction in its proper path, a shove to put it on its way; in every instance, a slight generosity, a drop too much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things-nature-sends-no-creature-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Add" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things-nature-sends-no-creature-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/493/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_add_exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things_242266.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Exaggeration is in the course of things. Nature sends no creature, no man into the world, without adding a…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Exaggeration is in the course of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things-nature-sends-no-creature-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/exaggeration-is-in-the-course-of-things-nature-sends-no-creature-no/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```