--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People go out to look at sunrises and…" description: "\"“People go out to look at sunrises and sunsets who do not recognize their own, quietly and happily, but know that it is foreign to them. As they do by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_quotation_people-go-out-to-look-at-sunrises-and-su_77756.jpg" --- # People go out to look at sunrises and sunsets who do not… ![“People go out to look at sunrises and sunsets who do not recognize their own, quietly and happily, but know that it is foreign to them. As they do by books, so they quote the sunset and the star, and do not make them theirs. Worse yet, they live as foreigners in a world of truth, and quote…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_quotation_people-go-out-to-look-at-sunrises-and-su_77756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_quotation_people-go-out-to-look-at-sunrises-and-su_77756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_quotation_people-go-out-to-look-at-sunrises-and-su_77756.jpg) > ““People go out to look at sunrises and sunsets who do not recognize their own, quietly and happily, but know that it is foreign to them. As they do by books, so they quote the sunset and the star, and do not make them theirs. Worse yet, they live as foreigners in a world of truth, and quote thoughts, and thus disown them. Quotation confesses inferiority”” [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 quote warns against observing external beauty or ideas without internalizing them, suggesting that such detachment leads to a feeling of alienation from one's own truth and thought. **In simple terms:** External observation without personal ownership creates alienation. Key Takeaway True insight requires making ideas your own. Themes authenticity self-awareness philosophy existentialism individualism Mood contemplative melancholic inquisitive Type philosophical reflective critical When to use this quote - reading literature - traveling to scenic places - engaging in debates - consuming media - reflecting on personal values Key Concepts ownership identity truth alienation Practical Applications - personal development workshops - mindfulness training Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between appreciating an idea and adopting it? - What practices help you internalize insights rather than merely quoting them? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sunrise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunrise/) [Sunsets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunsets/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“Wisdom is in books,... quote by me Halina Lagarde . Dan Brown is an inspiration to a book I am writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halina-lagarde/wisdom-is-in-books-quote-by-me-halina-lagarde-dan-brown-is-an/) Halina Lagarde > [In quoting of books, quote such authors as are usually read; others you may read for your own satisfaction, but not name them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/in-quoting-of-books-quote-such-authors-as-are-usually-read-others-you/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [I think that today's books, in which every quote, every conversation, is taken from a memoir, an autobiography, an interview, or what-have-you, are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-freedman/i-think-that-today-s-books-in-which-every-quote-every-conversation-is/) [Russell Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-freedman/) > [Immortality. I notice that as soon as writers broach this question they begin to quote. I hate quotation. Tell me what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/immortality-i-notice-that-as-soon-as-writers-broach-this-question/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Quotation confesses inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/quotation-confesses-inferiority/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Thus we do not carry a counsel in our breasts, or do not know it; and because we cannot shake off from our shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/thus-we-do-not-carry-a-counsel-in-our-breasts-or-do-not-know-it-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/next-to-the-originator-of-a-good-sentence-is-the-first-quoter-of-it-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it. Many will read the book before one thinks of quoting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/next-to-the-originator-of-a-good-sentence-is-the-first-quoter-of-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The next best thing to saying a good thing yourself is to quote one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-next-best-thing-to-saying-a-good-thing-yourself-is-to-quote-one/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All life is an experiment. Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom which animates all whom it floats, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-life-is-an-experiment-place-yourself-in-the-middle-of-the-stream/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-is-a-quotation-from-all-his-ancestors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I hate quotation. Tell me what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-hate-quotation-tell-me-what-you-know/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We are as much informed of a writer's genius by what he selects as by what he originates. We read the quotation with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-are-as-much-informed-of-a-writer-s-genius-by-what-he-selects-as-by/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/from-within-or-from-behind-a-light-shines-through-us-upon-things-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) ## 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 Quotation quotes > [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [We are ruled by quotations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/we-are-ruled-by-quotations/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“In the United States, periods and commas go inside the quotation mark. In Britain, they go outside the quotation mark. Squiggly said, “No.” (United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-fogarty/in-the-united-states-periods-and-commas-go-inside-the-quotation-mark/) Mignon Fogarty > [“By the way, Dorian, he (Lord Henry) said, after a pause, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-way-dorian-he-lord-henry-said-after-a-pause-what-does-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [A forward critic often dupes us With sham quotations peri hupsos, And if we have not read Longinus, Will magisterially outshine us. Then, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-forward-critic-often-dupes-us-with-sham-quotations-peri-hupsos-and/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I say quotations are literary. They are good only when dealing with ideas, not with experience. Experience should be pure, unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-say-quotations-are-literary-they-are-good-only-when-dealing-with/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A good quotation must be provocative; as provocative as to demolish an old wrong castle in the mind with a single strike!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-good-quotation-must-be-provocative-as-provocative-as-to-demolish-an/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Quote is a verb. Quotation is the noun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lindsay/quote-is-a-verb-quotation-is-the-noun/) Alan Lindsay > [ I took ethics classes in college, and it always amazes me how they \[tabloids\] will blatantly say something that I did not say, in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/i-took-ethics-classes-in-college-and-it-always-amazes-me-how-they/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [“Perhaps the most powerful and appealing aspect of another's words, however, is simply their convenience. Whether distilled in the briefest apophthegm, or spread out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-siegel-seneschal/perhaps-the-most-powerful-and-appealing-aspect-of-another-s-words/) Jasper Siegel Seneschal > [Below are some quotations along these lines. 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