--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is our dictionary." description: "\"Life is our dictionary.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_book_life-is-our-dictionary-2566519_2566519.png" --- # Life is our dictionary. ![“Life is our dictionary.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_book_life-is-our-dictionary-2566519_2566519.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_book_life-is-our-dictionary-2566519_2566519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_book_life-is-our-dictionary-2566519_2566519.png) > “Life is our dictionary.” [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. Life is defined by the words we choose, shaping our identity and actions. **In simple terms:** Words shape our life. Key Takeaway Choose words wisely. Themes self‑definition language philosophy Mood inspirational philosophical Type literary motivational When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - personal branding - education Key Concepts Existentialism personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How do your words reflect your values? - In what ways can you rewrite your narrative? A Different Perspective Words alone cannot change circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-dictionary-1653706/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is a thick dictionary, where you can find the meaning of anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenth/life-is-a-thick-dictionary-where-you-can-find-the-meaning-of-anything/) [Gwenth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenth/) > [The eyes of men converse as much as their tongues, with the advantage that the ocular dialect needs no dictionary, but is understood all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-eyes-of-men-converse-as-much-as-their-tongues-with-the-advantage/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only prudence in life is concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-only-prudence-in-life-is-concentration/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All life is an experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-life-is-an-experiment/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-the-woods-too-a-man-casts-off-his-years-as-the-snake-his-slough/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We expect a great man to be a good reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-expect-a-great-man-to-be-a-good-reader/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My life is an open book. With illustrations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/my-life-is-an-open-book-with-illustrations/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Every dictionary contains a world. I open a book of thieves’ slang from Queen Anne’s reign and they have a hundred words for swords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/every-dictionary-contains-a-world-i-open-a-book-of-thieves-slang-from/) [Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/) > [Cults use our vocabulary, but they don't use our dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/cults-use-our-vocabulary-but-they-don-t-use-our-dictionary/) [Charles R. 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People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) ## 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. 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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. 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