--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and…" description: "\"Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and sunlight are the same; The vanished gods to me appear; And one to me are shame and fame.They reckon ill who lea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png" --- # Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and sunlight are the… ![“Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and sunlight are the same; The vanished gods to me appear; And one to me are shame and fame.They reckon ill who leave me out; When me they fly, I am the wings; I am the doubter and the doubt, And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png) > “Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and sunlight are the same; The vanished gods to me appear; And one to me are shame and fame.They reckon ill who leave me out; When me they fly, I am the wings; I am the doubter and the doubt, And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.” [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. The speaker sees paradoxes—distance and proximity, light and shadow—as unified, suggesting that opposites are aspects of a single reality, and that personal doubt and belief are intertwined with divine presence. **In simple terms:** All opposites are one. Key Takeaway Dualities collapse into unity. Themes paradox unity spirituality self-awareness transcendence Mood wonder reverence mystery Type aphorism spiritual insight When to use this quote - contemplating existence - experiencing awe - facing inner conflict Key Concepts identity divine self-doubt Practical Applications - philosophical writing - meditative practice Questions to Reflect On - How do you experience opposing forces as a single truth? - What does it mean to be both doubter and hymn? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brahmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brahmins/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Doubters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubters/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Hymns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hymns/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Sunlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunlight/) ## Related quotes > [“I love this piece... Brahma If the red slayer think he slays, Or if the slain think he is slain, They know not well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-love-this-piece-brahma-if-the-red-slayer-think-he-slays-or-if-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Not all the gods who appear in these tales and fancies became more than mythological figures. Many of them continued merely in this role,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-henry-breasted/not-all-the-gods-who-appear-in-these-tales-and-fancies-became-more/) [James Henry Breasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-henry-breasted/) > [It is wonderful how soon a piano gets into a log-hut on the frontier. You would think they found it under a pine-stump. 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If the son of a Brahmin needs one teacher, that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-brahmin-is-not-so-much-in-need-of-education-as-a-chandala-if-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [And at the moment of contact, they do not know if the hand that is reaching for theirs belongs to a Hindu or Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suketu-mehta/and-at-the-moment-of-contact-they-do-not-know-if-the-hand-that-is/) [Suketu Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suketu-mehta/) > [Englishmen must learn to be Brahmins, not banias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/englishmen-must-learn-to-be-brahmins-not-banias/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Every sin already carries grace within in, all small children are potential old men, all sucklings have death within them, all dying people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/every-sin-already-carries-grace-within-in-all-small-children-are/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Foreigners are sending messages to the planets. We are sending rice and cereals to our dead fore-father through the Brahmins. It is a wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/foreigners-are-sending-messages-to-the-planets-we-are-sending-rice/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [Just as a line drawn on water with a stick will quickly vanish and will not last long; even so, brahmins, is human life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/just-as-a-line-drawn-on-water-with-a-stick-will-quickly-vanish-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [A brahmin once asked The Blessed One: "Are you a God?" "No, brahmin" said The Blessed One. "Are you a saint?" "No, brahmin" said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-brahmin-once-asked-the-blessed-one-are-you-a-god-no-brahmin-said/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I want the Brahmins to realize that the Dravidian people today are very much hating those who cunningly cheated them with absurdities. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/i-want-the-brahmins-to-realize-that-the-dravidian-people-today-are/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [The distinction that Jews have themselves always made between Jews of German origin and Jews of East European origin is as stringent as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/the-distinction-that-jews-have-themselves-always-made-between-jews-of/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [Our legal system, including the police, is anti-Dalit and anti-poor. The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) V. R. Krishna Iyer > [While all men are born as equals, to say that Brahmins alone are the highest and all others are low as Pariah (the Untouchables)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/while-all-men-are-born-as-equals-to-say-that-brahmins-alone-are-the/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) ## 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. 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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 Brahmins quotes > [While all men are born as equals, to say that Brahmins alone are the highest and all others are low as Pariah (the Untouchables)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/while-all-men-are-born-as-equals-to-say-that-brahmins-alone-are-the/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [Our legal system, including the police, is anti-Dalit and anti-poor. The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) V. R. Krishna Iyer > [The distinction that Jews have themselves always made between Jews of German origin and Jews of East European origin is as stringent as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/the-distinction-that-jews-have-themselves-always-made-between-jews-of/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [I want the Brahmins to realize that the Dravidian people today are very much hating those who cunningly cheated them with absurdities. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/i-want-the-brahmins-to-realize-that-the-dravidian-people-today-are/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [A brahmin once asked The Blessed One: "Are you a God?" "No, brahmin" said The Blessed One. "Are you a saint?" "No, brahmin" said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-brahmin-once-asked-the-blessed-one-are-you-a-god-no-brahmin-said/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Just as a line drawn on water with a stick will quickly vanish and will not last long; even so, brahmins, is human life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/just-as-a-line-drawn-on-water-with-a-stick-will-quickly-vanish-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Foreigners are sending messages to the planets. We are sending rice and cereals to our dead fore-father through the Brahmins. It is a wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/foreigners-are-sending-messages-to-the-planets-we-are-sending-rice/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [Every sin already carries grace within in, all small children are potential old men, all sucklings have death within them, all dying people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/every-sin-already-carries-grace-within-in-all-small-children-are/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Englishmen must learn to be Brahmins, not banias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/englishmen-must-learn-to-be-brahmins-not-banias/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [And at the moment of contact, they do not know if the hand that is reaching for theirs belongs to a Hindu or Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suketu-mehta/and-at-the-moment-of-contact-they-do-not-know-if-the-hand-that-is/) [Suketu Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suketu-mehta/) > [A Brahmin is not so much in need of education as a Chandala. If the son of a Brahmin needs one teacher, that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-brahmin-is-not-so-much-in-need-of-education-as-a-chandala-if-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Proselytism is tolerated by Hinduism. Any man, whether he be a Shudra or Chandala, can expound philosophy even to a Brahmin. The truth can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/proselytism-is-tolerated-by-hinduism-any-man-whether-he-be-a-shudra/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be proud that thou art an Indian, and proudly proclaim, "I am an Indian, every Indian is my brother." Say, "The ignorant Indian, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-proud-that-thou-art-an-indian-and-proudly-proclaim-i-am-an-indian/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The essence nature of the Brahmin is an urge to know the truth...the true Brahmin pursues truth at all costs and will not permit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-de-ropp/the-essence-nature-of-the-brahmin-is-an-urge-to-know-the-truth-the/) [Robert S. de Ropp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-de-ropp/) > [Because our ladies mostly attend Kalatshepams, (Religious discourses) they have fallen prey to the superstitions, blind beliefs, and immorality by the false and fictituous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/because-our-ladies-mostly-attend-kalatshepams-religious-discourses/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) [Browse all 45 Brahmins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brahmins/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and sunlight are the same; The vanished gods to me appear; And one to me are shame and fame.They reckon ill who leave me out; When me they fly, I am the wings; I am the doubter and the doubt, And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-sunlight-are-the-same-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brahmins" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-sunlight-are-the-same-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_brahmins_far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-s_89309.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Far or forgot to me is near; Shadow and sunlight are the same; The vanished gods to me appear; And one to me…” — 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": "Far or forgot to me is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-sunlight-are-the-same-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/far-or-forgot-to-me-is-near-shadow-and-sunlight-are-the-same-the/#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 } } ] } ```