--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One single idea may have greater weight…" description: "\"One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png" --- # One single idea may have greater weight than all the men… ![“One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png) > “One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century.” [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. A single powerful idea can outweigh the contributions of many over a long period. **In simple terms:** One great idea can dominate history. Key Takeaway Nurture transformative concepts. Themes innovation ideas impact Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - scientific research - artistic creation - social movements Key Concepts philosophy cultural evolution Questions to Reflect On - What ideas have shaped your life? - How can you protect and develop them? A Different Perspective Ideas need support to flourish. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [“the longer the wait, the greater the weight. At”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-longer-the-wait-the-greater-the-weight-at/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Various philosophers and religious leaders tried to convince their disciples and followers that animals are nothing more than machines without a soul, without feelings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/various-philosophers-and-religious-leaders-tried-to-convince-their/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Answer me, you who believe that animals are only machines. Has nature arranged for this animal to have all the machinery of feelings only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/answer-me-you-who-believe-that-animals-are-only-machines-has-nature/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The artificial intelligence approach may not be altogether the right one to make to the problem of designing automatic assembly devices. Animals and machines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-wilkes/the-artificial-intelligence-approach-may-not-be-altogether-the-right/) [Maurice Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-wilkes/) > [I like the idea of something greater than us. We destroy things with our curiosity. We shatter with our best intentions. We are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/i-like-the-idea-of-something-greater-than-us-we-destroy-things-with/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is more of a miracle than any sticks turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/an-idea-is-a-greater-monument-than-a-cathedral-and-the-advance-of-man-2/) [Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/) > [An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/an-idea-is-a-greater-monument-than-a-cathedral-and-the-advance-of-man/) [Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/) > [An idea can be greater than the Sun, because with an intelligent idea, man can discover the way to create another sun! Idea is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/an-idea-can-be-greater-than-the-sun-because-with-an-intelligent-idea/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/an-idea-is-a-greater-monument-than-a-cathedral/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [A really great man has always an idea of something greater than himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/a-really-great-man-has-always-an-idea-of-something-greater-than/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I'm not at all sure that the concept of the readymade isn't the most important single idea to come out of my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/i-m-not-at-all-sure-that-the-concept-of-the-readymade-isn-t-the-most/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I regard the people as a great being, inspired by a single idea. This is my problem. I strove to solve it in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modest-petrovich-mussorgsky/i-regard-the-people-as-a-great-being-inspired-by-a-single-idea-this/) Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky > [A single idea, if it is right, saves us the labor of an infinity of experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/a-single-idea-if-it-is-right-saves-us-the-labor-of-an-infinity-of/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [For me, a novel relying too heavily on a single idea might be a dry, deadly thing unless it possesses an animating force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/for-me-a-novel-relying-too-heavily-on-a-single-idea-might-be-a-dry/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“I have yet to hear a single idea that was worth considering for longer than it took us to listen to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-have-yet-to-hear-a-single-idea-that-was-worth-considering-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## 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 Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight-than-all-the-men-animals-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight-than-all-the-men-animals-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baa/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_animal_one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight_2762134.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One single idea may have greater weight than all the men, animals, and machines for a century.” — 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": "One single idea may have greater...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight-than-all-the-men-animals-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-single-idea-may-have-greater-weight-than-all-the-men-animals-and/#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 } } ] } ```