--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this great society wide lying around…" description: "\"In this great society wide lying around us, a critical analysis would find very few spontaneous actions. It is almost all custom and gross sense.\" — Ra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_in-this-great-society-wide-lying-around_1557577.png" --- # In this great society wide lying around us, a critical… ![“In this great society wide lying around us, a critical analysis would find very few spontaneous actions. It is almost all custom and gross sense.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_in-this-great-society-wide-lying-around_1557577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_in-this-great-society-wide-lying-around_1557577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_in-this-great-society-wide-lying-around_1557577.png) > “In this great society wide lying around us, a critical analysis would find very few spontaneous actions. It is almost all custom and gross sense.” [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. Society’s norms suppress spontaneous authenticity, favoring custom and superficial sense. **In simple terms:** Social norms limit true spontaneity. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal authenticity. Themes individualism social conformity authenticity critical thinking Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decisions - creative work - public speaking - daily habits Key Concepts philosophy social critique Questions to Reflect On - What small acts of authenticity can you practice today? - How do you balance societal expectations with personal truth? A Different Perspective Spontaneity can be risky in structured environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Analysis Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis-spontaneous-5836015/) [Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/) [Critical analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-analysis/) [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Great society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-society/) [Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gross/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-critical-5836017/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous/) [Spontaneous Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous-actions-5836016/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) ## Related quotes > [When life has been well spent, age is a loss of what it can well spare,--muscular strength, organic instincts, gross bulk, and works that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-life-has-been-well-spent-age-is-a-loss-of-what-it-can-well-spare/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Gross and obscure natures, however decorated, seem impure shambles; but character gives splendor to youth, and awe to wrinkled skin and gray hairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/gross-and-obscure-natures-however-decorated-seem-impure-shambles-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Do you suppose it's so much easier to make conversation with someone you already know well than with someone you don't know at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/do-you-suppose-it-s-so-much-easier-to-make-conversation-with-someone/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [This is what we've been waiting for: finally, an unprecedented critical analysis of the history of Dutch design. 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