--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leave this touching and clawing. Let him…" description: "\"“Leave this touching and clawing. Let him be to me a spirit. A message, a thought, a sincerity, a glance from him, I want, but not news nor pottage. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_friendship_leave-this-touching-and-clawing-let-him_84727.png" --- # Leave this touching and clawing. Let him be to me a… ![“Leave this touching and clawing. Let him be to me a spirit. A message, a thought, a sincerity, a glance from him, I want, but not news nor pottage. I can get politics, and chat, and neighborly conveniences from cheaper companions. Should not the society of my friend be to me poetic, pure…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_friendship_leave-this-touching-and-clawing-let-him_84727.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_friendship_leave-this-touching-and-clawing-let-him_84727.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e27/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_friendship_leave-this-touching-and-clawing-let-him_84727.png) > ““Leave this touching and clawing. Let him be to me a spirit. A message, a thought, a sincerity, a glance from him, I want, but not news nor pottage. I can get politics, and chat, and neighborly conveniences from cheaper companions. Should not the society of my friend be to me poetic, pure, universal, and great as nature itself? Ought I to feel that our tie is profane in comparison with yonder bar of cloud that sleeps on the horizon, or that clump of waving grass that divides the brook? Let us not vilify, bur raise it to that standard. That great, defying eye, that scornful beauty of his mien and action, do not pique yourself on reducing, but rather fortify and enhance.”” [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 speaker urges a shift from superficial, material concerns to a deeper, spiritual connection that values purity, universality, and the inherent beauty of existence over trivialities. **In simple terms:** Seek profound, poetic bonds over mundane interactions. Key Takeaway Elevate relationships to a higher, more universal plane. Themes spirituality philosophy nature authenticity human connection Mood reflective inspired thoughtful Type philosophical poetic inspirational When to use this quote - contemplating friendships - rejecting shallow social expectations - pursuing artistic inspiration Key Concepts inner truth beauty of being transcendence Practical Applications - creative writing - mindful relationship building Questions to Reflect On - How can we recognize when a relationship becomes superficial? - What practices help maintain a poetic perspective in daily life? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Reason ought not, like vanity, to adorn herself with ancient parchments, and the display of a genealogical tree; more dignified in her proceedings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/reason-ought-not-like-vanity-to-adorn-herself-with-ancient-parchments/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [The most common lie uttered without thought, sincerity, resolve, or guilt: I love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-most-common-lie-uttered-without-thought-sincerity-resolve-or/) [Richelle E. 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