--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn…" description: "\"Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn; nature's oldest force is as good as new.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png" --- # Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn; nature's oldest… ![“Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn; nature's oldest force is as good as new.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png) > “Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn; nature's oldest force is as good as new.” [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. Nature constantly renews itself, and even the smallest elements retain their original vigor. **In simple terms:** Nature never loses its freshness. Key Takeaway Observe and appreciate nature's resilience. Themes nature renewal optimism Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - hiking - gardening - environmental education - creative writing Key Concepts ecology philosophy of nature Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect nature's freshness? - What does this say about personal renewal? A Different Perspective Nature's renewal may be limited by human impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Dimmed Atom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dimmed-atom-3515232/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Force Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-good/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Oldest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-oldest-3515230/) [Oldest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oldest/) [Oldest Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oldest-force-3515231/) [Rays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rays/) [Worn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worn/) ## Related quotes > [Idealism sees the world in God. It beholds the whole circle of persons and things, of actions and events, of country and religion,not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/idealism-sees-the-world-in-god-it-beholds-the-whole-circle-of-persons/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Passion, though a bad regulator, is a powerful spring. Any absorbing passion has the effect to deliver from the little coils and cares of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/passion-though-a-bad-regulator-is-a-powerful-spring-any-absorbing/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [For the world was built in order around the atoms march in tune; Rhyme the pipe, and Time the warder, The sun obeys them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/for-the-world-was-built-in-order-around-the-atoms-march-in-tune-rhyme/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Man is made of the same atoms the world is, he shares the same impressions, predispositions, and destiny. When his mind is illuminated, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-made-of-the-same-atoms-the-world-is-he-shares-the-same/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By his machines man can dive and remain under water like a shark; can fly like a hawk in the air; can see atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/by-his-machines-man-can-dive-and-remain-under-water-like-a-shark-can/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nature never hurries: atom by atom, little by little, she achieves her work. The lesson one learns from yachting or planting is the manners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-never-hurries-atom-by-atom-little-by-little-she-achieves-her/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I want spend some time continuing to be a force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-want-spend-some-time-continuing-to-be-a-force-for-good/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I believe nature is a force of good. Good is not only a concept, it is a spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stamets/i-believe-nature-is-a-force-of-good-good-is-not-only-a-concept-it-is/) [Paul Stamets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stamets/) > [Our desire to bring every good thing to our children is a force for good throughout the world. It’s what propels societies forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/our-desire-to-bring-every-good-thing-to-our-children-is-a-force-for/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [“And so the moment we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold into a library, we've changed their lives forever, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/and-so-the-moment-we-persuade-a-child-any-child-to-cross-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I realized that social media can be powerful force for good in the world and that acts of kindness can be scaled globally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jo-martin/i-realized-that-social-media-can-be-powerful-force-for-good-in-the/) [Amy Jo Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jo-martin/) > [Free speech may be a right, but only by using it as a force for good in the world do we make it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephraim-mirvis/free-speech-may-be-a-right-but-only-by-using-it-as-a-force-for-good/) [Ephraim Mirvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephraim-mirvis/) > [Ambition that centers on the glory of God and welfare of the church is a mighty force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/ambition-that-centers-on-the-glory-of-god-and-welfare-of-the-church/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [As CEO of Unilever, my personal mission is to galvanize our company to be an effective force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/as-ceo-of-unilever-my-personal-mission-is-to-galvanize-our-company-to/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [What can you do to make a difference? And why should you do it? (...) the scale of one's social investments doesn't matter. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/what-can-you-do-to-make-a-difference-and-why-should-you-do-it-the/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## 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 Atoms quotes > [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/) [Giulio Natta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-natta/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Traditional nationalism cannot survive the fissioning of the atom. One world or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/traditional-nationalism-cannot-survive-the-fissioning-of-the-atom-one/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanford-wilson/i-am-not-sure-why-but-i-have-been-obsessed-by-the-atom-bomb-ever/) [Lanford Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanford-wilson/) > [History is the short trudge from Adam to atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-the-short-trudge-from-adam-to-atom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The dogma of the impossibility of determining the atomic constitution of substances, which until recently was advocated with such fervor by the most able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-korner/the-dogma-of-the-impossibility-of-determining-the-atomic-constitution/) [Wilhelm Korner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-korner/) > [I have never seen what to me seemed an atom of proof that there is a future life. And yet-I am inclined to expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-seen-what-to-me-seemed-an-atom-of-proof-that-there-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/) [Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/) > [Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nature-is-full-of-wonders-every-atom-is-a-standing-miracle-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [ “\[Think\] of an experience from your childhood. Something you remember clearly, something you can see, feel, maybe even smell, as if you were really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-grand/think-of-an-experience-from-your-childhood-something-you-remember/) [Steve Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-grand/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Browse all 852 Atoms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn; nature's oldest force is as good as new.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nature-s-oldest-force-is-as-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atoms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nature-s-oldest-force-is-as-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_atoms_not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nat_1188251.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not a ray is dimmed, not an atom worn; nature's oldest force is as good as new.” — 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": "Not a ray is dimmed, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nature-s-oldest-force-is-as-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/not-a-ray-is-dimmed-not-an-atom-worn-nature-s-oldest-force-is-as-good/#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 } } ] } ```