--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finish each day and be done with it. You…" description: "\"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_absurdity_finish-each-day-and-be-done-with-it-you_3030780.jpg" --- # Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what… ![“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_absurdity_finish-each-day-and-be-done-with-it-you_3030780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_absurdity_finish-each-day-and-be-done-with-it-you_3030780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_absurdity_finish-each-day-and-be-done-with-it-you_3030780.jpg) > “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” [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. Accept the day's imperfections, let go of mistakes, and start tomorrow fresh and positive. **In simple terms:** Let go of today’s errors and begin tomorrow anew. Key Takeaway Release regrets, embrace a new day. Themes self‑acceptance resilience mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily reflection - morning routine - stress management Key Concepts imperfection letting go Questions to Reflect On - How can you acknowledge mistakes without self‑criticism? - What small habit can you start tomorrow to feel lighter? 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You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/finish-each-day-and-be-done-with-it-you-have-done-what-you-could-some-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Finish every day and be done with it. For manners and for wise living it is a vice to remember. You have done what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/finish-every-day-and-be-done-with-it-for-manners-and-for-wise-living/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/finish-every-day-and-be-done-with-it-you-have-done-what-you-could/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/tomorrow-is-a-new-day-begin-it-well-and-serenely-and-with-too-high-a/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If you think you can't, you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bartz/if-you-think-you-can-t-you-re-right/) [Carol Bartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bartz/) > [If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/if-you-re-happy-in-what-you-re-doing-you-ll-like-yourself-you-ll-have/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/keep-away-from-people-who-try-to-belittle-your-ambition/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Work hard at work worth doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/work-hard-at-work-worth-doing/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [What is the recipe for successful achievement? Choose a career you love. Give it the best there is in you. Seize your opportunities. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/what-is-the-recipe-for-successful-achievement-choose-a-career-you/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [There is a fundamental law that the tissue of the human body will waste away through idleness and disuse. Conversely, muscles and vessel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-robison/there-is-a-fundamental-law-that-the-tissue-of-the-human-body-will/) Clarence Robison > [Begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/begin-to-live-each-day-to-the-fullest-as-if-it-were-the-only-one-we/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) ## 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 Absurdity quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." 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Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) Wendy Farley > [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [“Christianity would be helpless without the idea of free will and the idea of free will would be helpless without incongruity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/christianity-would-be-helpless-without-the-idea-of-free-will-and-the/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. 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