--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For, when men shall meet as they ought…" description: "\"For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor, a shower of stars, clothed with thoughts, with deeds, with accomplishments, it should be the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_for-when-men-shall-meet-as-they-ought-ea_686751.jpg" --- # For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor… ![“For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor, a shower of stars, clothed with thoughts, with deeds, with accomplishments, it should be the festival of nature which all things announce. Of such friendship, love in the sexes is the first symbol, as all other things are symbols of love…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_for-when-men-shall-meet-as-they-ought-ea_686751.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_for-when-men-shall-meet-as-they-ought-ea_686751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_accomplishment_for-when-men-shall-meet-as-they-ought-ea_686751.jpg) > “For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor, a shower of stars, clothed with thoughts, with deeds, with accomplishments, it should be the festival of nature which all things announce. Of such friendship, love in the sexes is the first symbol, as all other things are symbols of love. Those relations to the best men, which, at one time, we reckoned the romances of youth, become, in the progress of character, the most solid enjoyment.” [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 passage celebrates ideal friendships as uplifting, likening them to a festival of nature that reveals love and personal growth. **In simple terms:** True friendship lifts us and fosters love and growth. Key Takeaway Seek deep, supportive friendships. Themes friendship love personal development Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - college life - career mentorship - community building Key Concepts philosophy humanism Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a friendship feel like a celebration? - How does friendship shape personal character? A Different Perspective Idealized view may overlook conflict in real friendships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Benefactors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefactors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Festivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/festivals/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Perhaps love is only the highest symbol of friendship, as all other things seem symbols of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/perhaps-love-is-only-the-highest-symbol-of-friendship-as-all-other/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Peace and love, Between the sexes, A little nibby, On the solar plexus…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/funston-de-groot/peace-and-love-between-the-sexes-a-little-nibby-on-the-solar-plexus/) Funston de Groot > [Never Try To Examine Your Love Relations Bcoz They r Like Diamonds When You Hit Them They Dont Break But May Slip Away From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/never-try-to-examine-your-love-relations-bcoz-they-r-like-diamonds/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [''Never try to examine your love relations because they are like diamonds when you hit them they don't break but may slip away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-try-to-examine-your-love-relations-because-they-are-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never Try To Examine Your Love Relations Because They are Like Diamonds. When You Hit Them, They Dont Break But May Slip Away From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/never-try-to-examine-your-love-relations-because-they-are-like-2/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [Every evil to which we do not succumb is a benefactor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-evil-to-which-we-do-not-succumb-is-a-benefactor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Talent for talent's sake is a bauble and a show. Talent working with joy in the cause of universal truth lifts the possessor to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/talent-for-talent-s-sake-is-a-bauble-and-a-show-talent-working-with/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Mankind divides itself into two classes,--benefactors and malefactors. The second class is vast; the first a handful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/mankind-divides-itself-into-two-classes-benefactors-and-malefactors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The cruelest foe is a masked benefactor. The wars which make history so dreary have served the cause of truth and virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-cruelest-foe-is-a-masked-benefactor-the-wars-which-make-history/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The Buddhist, who thanks no man, who says "Do not flatter your benefactors," but who, in his conviction that every good deed can by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-buddhist-who-thanks-no-man-who-says-do-not-flatter-your/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If you have a nation of men who have risen to that height of moral cultivation that they will not declare war or carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-you-have-a-nation-of-men-who-have-risen-to-that-height-of-moral/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Take egotism out and you would castrate the benefactors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/take-egotism-out-and-you-would-castrate-the-benefactors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Providence has a wild, rough, incalculable road to its end, and it is of no use to try to whitewash its huge, mixed instrumentalities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/providence-has-a-wild-rough-incalculable-road-to-its-end-and-it-is-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [This whole business of Trade gives me to pause and think, as it constitutes false relations between men; inasmuch as I am prone tocount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/this-whole-business-of-trade-gives-me-to-pause-and-think-as-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I happen to have the benefit of having a son-in-law who was the former Mr. France and a trainer. I like being his benefactor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/i-happen-to-have-the-benefit-of-having-a-son-in-law-who-was-the/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) ## 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 Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) Anthony Sargent > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor, a shower of stars, clothed with thoughts, with deeds, with accomplishments, it should be the festival of nature which all things announce. Of such friendship, love in the sexes is the first symbol, as all other things are symbols of love. 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