--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or…" description: "\"Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but he is all. Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier.\" — Ralph Wald..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png" --- # Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but… ![“Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but he is all. Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png) > “Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but he is all. Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier.” [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. Humans embody many roles—priest, scholar, statesman, producer, soldier—rather than a single profession. **In simple terms:** People hold multiple roles, not just one job. Key Takeaway Embrace your multifaceted nature. Themes identity versatility human potential role integration Mood inspired confident Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - leadership - creative projects Key Concepts Renaissance ideal interdisciplinary life Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance multiple identities? - What role defines you most now? A Different Perspective Specializing can be necessary for expertise; breadth may dilute depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Professors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professors/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier. In the divided or social state these functions are parcelled out to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-priest-and-scholar-and-statesman-and-producer-and-soldier-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-priest-and-scholar-and-statesman-and-producer-and-soldier/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [ “What are you?' he \[Nanapush\] said to Damien, who was deep in a meditation over his \[chess\] bishop's trajectory. 'A priest' said Father Damien… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/what-are-you-he-nanapush-said-to-damien-who-was-deep-in-a-meditation/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I think the fall from the farmer to the operative as great and memorable as that from the man to the farmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-the-fall-from-the-farmer-to-the-operative-as-great-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Thousands of engineers can design bridges, calculate strains and stresses, and draw up specifications for machines, but the great engineer is the man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-grace/thousands-of-engineers-can-design-bridges-calculate-strains-and/) Eugene Grace > [It has been said that an engineer is a man who can do for ten shillings what any fool can do for a pound;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevil-shute/it-has-been-said-that-an-engineer-is-a-man-who-can-do-for-ten/) [Nevil Shute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevil-shute/) > [“Considering he was neither priest nor scholar, the young man gave sensible, thoughtful replies -- the more so, perhaps, for being untrained, for he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/considering-he-was-neither-priest-nor-scholar-the-young-man-gave/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [“Perhaps you were right after all, my dear Nicolaus; perhaps there is but one god. But if that is true, you have misnamed him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/perhaps-you-were-right-after-all-my-dear-nicolaus-perhaps-there-is/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [Every really able man, in whatever direction he works - a man of large affairs, an inventor, a statesman, an orator, a poet, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-really-able-man-in-whatever-direction-he-works-a-man-of-large/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-adored-by-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-foolish-consistency-is-the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds-adored-by/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Society is an illusion to the young citizen. It lies before him in rigid repose, with certain names, men, and institutions, rootedlike oak-trees to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/society-is-an-illusion-to-the-young-citizen-it-lies-before-him-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One of our statesmen said, "The curse of this country is eloquent men."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-of-our-statesmen-said-the-curse-of-this-country-is-eloquent-men/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Society always consists, in greatest part, of young and foolish persons. The old, who have seen through the hypocrisy of the courts and statesmen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/society-always-consists-in-greatest-part-of-young-and-foolish-persons/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## 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 Engineers quotes > [I had always assumed that the right way to do it was to these engineers, put them in offices by themselves with doors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/i-had-always-assumed-that-the-right-way-to-do-it-was-to-these/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [Design is all about relationships. Unfortunately, many designers don’t fully appreciate this. Some of the best design work I’ve ever done was drinking coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burka/design-is-all-about-relationships-unfortunately-many-designers-don-t/) Daniel Burka > [There is no demand for women engineers, as such, as there are for women doctors; but there's always a demand for anyone who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-clarke/there-is-no-demand-for-women-engineers-as-such-as-there-are-for-women/) Edith Clarke > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [I'm going to be specific so you can render your verdict. Let's go to North Africa, she was the chief engineer of the disastrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-m-going-to-be-specific-so-you-can-render-your-verdict-let-s-go-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [ \[An engineer's\] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mitcham/an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to-come-into-existence-from/) Carl Mitcham > [“neighborhood was filled with engineers from Hewlett-Packard, then as now one of”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/neighborhood-was-filled-with-engineers-from-hewlett-packard-then-as/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Of course, I have given my engineers some headaches over the years, but they go with me. I have always wanted my buildings to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/of-course-i-have-given-my-engineers-some-headaches-over-the-years-but/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [One out of every eight Pennsylvanians and one in every 720 people in the United States, as well as one out of every 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/one-out-of-every-eight-pennsylvanians-and-one-in-every-720-people-in/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [“In all other construction disciplines, engineers plan a construction strategy that craftmen execute. Engineers don't build bridges; ironworkers do. Only in software is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cooper/in-all-other-construction-disciplines-engineers-plan-a-construction/) [Alan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cooper/) > [Engineers love to optimize problems. Now I optimize logistical problems. I ask: 'What's the goal? What are our constraints? What is the optimal, elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruchi-sanghvi/engineers-love-to-optimize-problems-now-i-optimize-logistical/) [Ruchi Sanghvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruchi-sanghvi/) > [I've often thought that if planners were botanists, zoologists, geologists, and people who know about the earth, we would have much more wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-ve-often-thought-that-if-planners-were-botanists-zoologists/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Everyone told me you can't build a major tech company in Canada. There just aren't enough investors or engineers or top-level managers. Each day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/everyone-told-me-you-can-t-build-a-major-tech-company-in-canada-there/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Writers are engineers of human souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yury-olesha/writers-are-engineers-of-human-souls/) Yury Olesha [Browse all 714 Engineers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but he is all. Man is priest, and scholar, and statesman, and producer, and soldier.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an-engineer-but-he-is-all-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Engineers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an-engineer-but-he-is-all-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_engineers_man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an_187383.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but he is all. Man is priest, and scholar, and…” — 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": "Man is not a farmer, or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an-engineer-but-he-is-all-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-not-a-farmer-or-a-professor-or-an-engineer-but-he-is-all-man/#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 } } ] } ```