--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know too well how slowly we edge along…" description: "\"“I know too well how slowly we edge along sideways to every thing good & brilliant in our lives & how casually and unobservedly we make all our most va..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png" --- # I know too well how slowly we edge along sideways to every… ![“I know too well how slowly we edge along sideways to every thing good & brilliant in our lives & how casually and unobservedly we make all our most valued acquaintances.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png) > ““I know too well how slowly we edge along sideways to every thing good & brilliant in our lives & how casually and unobservedly we make all our most valued acquaintances.”” [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. We often overlook good things while drifting sideways, missing valuable relationships and opportunities. **In simple terms:** We miss good things while drifting. Key Takeaway Stay attentive to blessings. Themes philosophy mindfulness relationships Mood contemplative encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily journaling - mindful walking - relationship building Key Concepts attention gratitude life direction Questions to Reflect On - What good things are you overlooking? - How can you become more present? A Different Perspective Distractions can still derail focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Casual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casual/) [Edge Sideways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edge-sideways-4221693/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Know Slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-slowly-3808194/) [Sideways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sideways/) [Valued Acquaintances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valued-acquaintances-4136235/) ## Related quotes > [How casually and unobservedly we make all our most valued acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/how-casually-and-unobservedly-we-make-all-our-most-valued/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If you do not give right attention to the one you love, it is a kind of killing. When you are in the car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-do-not-give-right-attention-to-the-one-you-love-it-is-a-kind/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [People get to know me slowly and over the course of time. I'll probably still be a newcomer when I'm 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/people-get-to-know-me-slowly-and-over-the-course-of-time-i-ll/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Our relations to each other are oblique and casual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-relations-to-each-other-are-oblique-and-casual/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Acquaintances represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I do not like to think myself growing old. In the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-love-the-acquaintance-of-young-people-because-in-the-first-place-i/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pessimism, she is a fond friend of yours, yes?" - That's uncalled for. I barely know her. Mere acquaintances, at best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/pessimism-she-is-a-fond-friend-of-yours-yes-that-s-uncalled-for-i/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Who is everywhere is nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/who-is-everywhere-is-nowhere-when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Acquaintances, in sort, represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-in-sort-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I use to have lots of friends; now I have less, but much more acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anag/i-use-to-have-lots-of-friends-now-i-have-less-but-much-more/) [AnaG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anag/) > [“Mr. Severin smiled, tiny constellations of reflected chandelier lights glinting in his eyes. "Since I've told you about my tastes... what are yours?" Cassandra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/mr-severin-smiled-tiny-constellations-of-reflected-chandelier-lights/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [With politics, everyone - your neighbour, acquaintances, anyone you ever meet - has an opinion. Particularly about what Arvind Kejriwal should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/with-politics-everyone-your-neighbour-acquaintances-anyone-you-ever/) [Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/) > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [I have a few very close friends, then I have some good friends, lots of acquaintances and a large mass of people I tolerate!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-few-very-close-friends-then-i-have-some-good-friends-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But by the time those acquaintances became close friends, it was too late. Perhaps there was a perfect moment in between, when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/but-by-the-time-those-acquaintances-became-close-friends-it-was-too/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) ## 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 Acquaintances quotes > [“But by the time those acquaintances became close friends, it was too late. Perhaps there was a perfect moment in between, when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/but-by-the-time-those-acquaintances-became-close-friends-it-was-too/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) > [I have a few very close friends, then I have some good friends, lots of acquaintances and a large mass of people I tolerate!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-few-very-close-friends-then-i-have-some-good-friends-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [With politics, everyone - your neighbour, acquaintances, anyone you ever meet - has an opinion. Particularly about what Arvind Kejriwal should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/with-politics-everyone-your-neighbour-acquaintances-anyone-you-ever/) [Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/) > [“Mr. Severin smiled, tiny constellations of reflected chandelier lights glinting in his eyes. "Since I've told you about my tastes... what are yours?" Cassandra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/mr-severin-smiled-tiny-constellations-of-reflected-chandelier-lights/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I use to have lots of friends; now I have less, but much more acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anag/i-use-to-have-lots-of-friends-now-i-have-less-but-much-more/) [AnaG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anag/) > [“Acquaintances, in sort, represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-in-sort-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Who is everywhere is nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/who-is-everywhere-is-nowhere-when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Pessimism, she is a fond friend of yours, yes?" - That's uncalled for. I barely know her. Mere acquaintances, at best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/pessimism-she-is-a-fond-friend-of-yours-yes-that-s-uncalled-for-i/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I do not like to think myself growing old. In the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-love-the-acquaintance-of-young-people-because-in-the-first-place-i/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Acquaintances represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Saying that you do not remember something or someone is a less embarrassing or hurtful way of saying that you do not know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/saying-that-you-do-not-remember-something-or-someone-is-a-less/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Friends are not a number. You can't collect connections. You can't just go out one day and be like, "Hey, I need some friends!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-franta/friends-are-not-a-number-you-can-t-collect-connections-you-can-t-just/) [Connor Franta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-franta/) > [It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. Of course, any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-suddenly-seemed-to-me-that-i-was-lonely-that-every-one-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 130 Acquaintances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know too well how slowly we edge along sideways to every thing good & brilliant in our lives & how casually and unobservedly we make all our most valued acquaintances.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along-sideways-to-every-thing-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquaintances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along-sideways-to-every-thing-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_acquaintances_i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along_2915644.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know too well how slowly we edge along sideways to every thing good & brilliant in our lives & how…” — 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": "“I know too well how slowly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along-sideways-to-every-thing-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-know-too-well-how-slowly-we-edge-along-sideways-to-every-thing-good/#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 } } ] } ```