--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If, at any time, it comes into my head…" description: "\"If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone.\" — Ralph W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png" --- # If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is… ![“If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png) > “If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone.” [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. When feeling obliged to give something, uncertainty arises until the chance passes, highlighting the paradox of intention and action. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty in giving. Key Takeaway Act before hesitation. Themes philosophy self‑reliance intentionality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal relationships - charitable acts - professional duties Key Concepts moral psychology decision making timing Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from giving? - How can you prepare for spontaneous generosity? A Different Perspective Overthinking can prevent generosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Head Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-present-1143263/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Present Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-somebody-1143262/) [Puzzled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puzzled/) [Puzzled Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puzzled-opportunity-1143260/) [Somebody Puzzled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-puzzled-1143261/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Saying let's just be friends, is like saying to someone here I have this present, but I somebody more special gets it, so here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treasureprincess/saying-let-s-just-be-friends-is-like-saying-to-someone-here-i-have/) [TreasurePrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treasureprincess/) > [It always puzzled me why opportunity would never come my way until it dawned on me that I needed to spend more time at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-always-puzzled-me-why-opportunity-would-never-come-my-way-until-it/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [I'm always 20 minutes ahead of myself in my head. But being present - it's beautiful when it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perfume-genius/i-m-always-20-minutes-ahead-of-myself-in-my-head-but-being-present-it/) [Perfume Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perfume-genius/) > [“I do have a head, as I am at present manifest in the physical world, and indeed you demonstrate that my head possesses within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-haley/i-do-have-a-head-as-i-am-at-present-manifest-in-the-physical-world/) [Cameron Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-haley/) > [Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is due to the triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-great-and-commanding-movement-in-the-annals-of-the-world-is-due/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The proof given by Wright, that non-adaptive differentiation will occur in small populations owing to "drift," or the chance fixation of some new mutation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/the-proof-given-by-wright-that-non-adaptive-differentiation-will/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [“Colin: "1 dinna understand why we canna just go to bed and have sex." He looked truly puzzled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-bangs/colin-1-dinna-understand-why-we-canna-just-go-to-bed-and-have-sex-he/) [Nina Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-bangs/) > [They came out over the highway and they stopped and that's when Barney got out, with the binoculars to try and identify the craft.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-hill/they-came-out-over-the-highway-and-they-stopped-and-that-s-when/) [Betty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-hill/) > [I would just stand there puzzled, then realize this would be a great place to make a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tune/i-would-just-stand-there-puzzled-then-realize-this-would-be-a-great/) [Tommy Tune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tune/) > [In 1966, while working on a feature about a Picasso exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, I recorded the pre-opening preparations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micha-bar-am/in-1966-while-working-on-a-feature-about-a-picasso-exhibition-at-the/) [Micha Bar-Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micha-bar-am/) > [What is up,you never look down. What is down, you never look up. But you forgot there is always something missing,the missing piece that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-cliff/what-is-up-you-never-look-down-what-is-down-you-never-look-up-but-you/) [Ricky Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-cliff/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## 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 Dues quotes > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I suggest due process, speedy trials, and public hangings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/i-suggest-due-process-speedy-trials-and-public-hangings/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Used with due abstinence, hope acts as a healthful tonic; intemperately indulged, as an enervating opiate. The visions of future triumph, which at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/used-with-due-abstinence-hope-acts-as-a-healthful-tonic-intemperately/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I am down mentally. I can't understand how it happened and who is to blame? I don't know why the ground was rolled before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeasin-khan/i-am-down-mentally-i-can-t-understand-how-it-happened-and-who-is-to/) [Yeasin Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yeasin-khan/) > [Paying your dues isn't always fun but it pays you back 100 times if you do it with a happy heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/paying-your-dues-isn-t-always-fun-but-it-pays-you-back-100-times-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Jains the soul in pure form has infiniteness in terms of its knowledge and power. These faculties are obstructed for its exhibition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/according-to-jains-the-soul-in-pure-form-has-infiniteness-in-terms-of/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [I very often used to get backaches due to the fact that I was wrong. Whenever you are wrong you have to fight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-very-often-used-to-get-backaches-due-to-the-fact-that-i-was-wrong/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [Certainly none of the advances made in civilization has been due to counterrevolutionaries and advocates of the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mauldin/certainly-none-of-the-advances-made-in-civilization-has-been-due-to/) [Bill Mauldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mauldin/) [Browse all 1,408 Dues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-that-a-present-is-due-from-me-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dues" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-that-a-present-is-due-from-me-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_dues_if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-tha_890606.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to…” — 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": "If, at any time, it comes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-that-a-present-is-due-from-me-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-at-any-time-it-comes-into-my-head-that-a-present-is-due-from-me-to/#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 } } ] } ```