--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The near explains the far. The drop is a…" description: "\"The near explains the far. The drop is a small ocean. A man is related to all nature. This perception of the worth of the vulgar is fruitful in discove..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_connectedness_the-near-explains-the-far-the-drop-is-a_3049522.jpg" --- # The near explains the far. The drop is a small ocean. A… ![“The near explains the far. The drop is a small ocean. A man is related to all nature. This perception of the worth of the vulgar is fruitful in discoveries. Goethe, in this very thing the most modern of the moderns, has shown us, as none ever did, the genius of the ancients.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_connectedness_the-near-explains-the-far-the-drop-is-a_3049522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_connectedness_the-near-explains-the-far-the-drop-is-a_3049522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_connectedness_the-near-explains-the-far-the-drop-is-a_3049522.jpg) > “The near explains the far. The drop is a small ocean. A man is related to all nature. This perception of the worth of the vulgar is fruitful in discoveries. Goethe, in this very thing the most modern of the moderns, has shown us, as none ever did, the genius of the ancients.” [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. Understanding the small reveals the vast; perceiving humanity’s place in nature unlocks insight and discovery, echoing ancient wisdom. **In simple terms:** Seeing the small helps grasp the big. Key Takeaway Observe details to discover larger truths. Themes nature perception wisdom discovery Mood inspired contemplative Type essayistic philosophical When to use this quote - science - philosophy - environmentalism - education Key Concepts holistic view interconnectedness Questions to Reflect On - What small detail has taught you something big? - How does nature inspire your thinking? A Different Perspective Focusing on minutiae may miss broader patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connectedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connectedness/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Vulgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgar/) ## Related quotes > [The inmost in due time becomes the outmost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-inmost-in-due-time-becomes-the-outmost/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Discovering the connectedness of the Universe is the ultimate goal of enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/discovering-the-connectedness-of-the-universe-is-the-ultimate-goal-of/) Senoraroy > [In a sense the physical connectedness that you feel with your children as a mother changes as they become independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polixeni-papapetrou/in-a-sense-the-physical-connectedness-that-you-feel-with-your/) [Polixeni Papapetrou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polixeni-papapetrou/) > [I set out to really build this universe of interfaith connectedness, where people could see that other people in different parts of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-set-out-to-really-build-this-universe-of-interfaith-connectedness/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“We all have the same root, and are connected... To tap into this connectedness we must go within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summerlyn-guthrie/we-all-have-the-same-root-and-are-connected-to-tap-into-this/) Summerlyn Guthrie > [Letting the last breath come. Letting the last breath go. Dissolving, dissolving into vast space, the light body released from its heavier form. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-levine/letting-the-last-breath-come-letting-the-last-breath-go-dissolving/) [Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-levine/) > [“I miss that feeling of connection. Knowing he was out there somewhere thinking about me at the same time I was thinking about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/i-miss-that-feeling-of-connection-knowing-he-was-out-there-somewhere/) [Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/) > [“Travel opens us up, exposes us to new people and places. New thoughts, new ways of being and a larger feeling of connection. And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kouvas/travel-opens-us-up-exposes-us-to-new-people-and-places-new-thoughts/) Erin Kouvas > [Be at Peace with Everyone - No one is capable of making you upset without your consent, so if you begin practicing the intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-at-peace-with-everyone-no-one-is-capable-of-making-you-upset/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [They are the kinds of things that make us a community: attachment to place, attachment to local arts traditions, the ability to read literature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/they-are-the-kinds-of-things-that-make-us-a-community-attachment-to/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-through-our-connectedness-to-others-can-we-really-know-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is always connected to beauty. When you see someone acting by their principles, their wisdom makes them beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/wisdom-is-always-connected-to-beauty-when-you-see-someone-acting-by/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“Sitting outside on a dark night, under the stars, invites confidences amongst people of all ages, and all walks of life. It invokes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-shepherd/sitting-outside-on-a-dark-night-under-the-stars-invites-confidences/) [A.B. Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-shepherd/) > [We started off with physical evolution and got our form. Then we somehow developed language, which meant cultural evolution could race so we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-started-off-with-physical-evolution-and-got-our-form-then-we/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [The key is to be in a state of permanent connectedness with your inner body - to feel it at all times. This will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-key-is-to-be-in-a-state-of-permanent-connectedness-with-your/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## 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 Connectedness quotes > [The key is to be in a state of permanent connectedness with your inner body - to feel it at all times. This will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-key-is-to-be-in-a-state-of-permanent-connectedness-with-your/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We started off with physical evolution and got our form. Then we somehow developed language, which meant cultural evolution could race so we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-started-off-with-physical-evolution-and-got-our-form-then-we/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“Sitting outside on a dark night, under the stars, invites confidences amongst people of all ages, and all walks of life. It invokes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-shepherd/sitting-outside-on-a-dark-night-under-the-stars-invites-confidences/) [A.B. Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-shepherd/) > [Wisdom is always connected to beauty. When you see someone acting by their principles, their wisdom makes them beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/wisdom-is-always-connected-to-beauty-when-you-see-someone-acting-by/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-through-our-connectedness-to-others-can-we-really-know-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They are the kinds of things that make us a community: attachment to place, attachment to local arts traditions, the ability to read literature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/they-are-the-kinds-of-things-that-make-us-a-community-attachment-to/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Be at Peace with Everyone - No one is capable of making you upset without your consent, so if you begin practicing the intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-at-peace-with-everyone-no-one-is-capable-of-making-you-upset/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Travel opens us up, exposes us to new people and places. New thoughts, new ways of being and a larger feeling of connection. And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kouvas/travel-opens-us-up-exposes-us-to-new-people-and-places-new-thoughts/) Erin Kouvas > [“I miss that feeling of connection. Knowing he was out there somewhere thinking about me at the same time I was thinking about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/i-miss-that-feeling-of-connection-knowing-he-was-out-there-somewhere/) [Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/) > [Letting the last breath come. Letting the last breath go. Dissolving, dissolving into vast space, the light body released from its heavier form. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-levine/letting-the-last-breath-come-letting-the-last-breath-go-dissolving/) [Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-levine/) > [“We all have the same root, and are connected... To tap into this connectedness we must go within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summerlyn-guthrie/we-all-have-the-same-root-and-are-connected-to-tap-into-this/) Summerlyn Guthrie > [I set out to really build this universe of interfaith connectedness, where people could see that other people in different parts of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-set-out-to-really-build-this-universe-of-interfaith-connectedness/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [In a sense the physical connectedness that you feel with your children as a mother changes as they become independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polixeni-papapetrou/in-a-sense-the-physical-connectedness-that-you-feel-with-your/) [Polixeni Papapetrou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polixeni-papapetrou/) > [Discovering the connectedness of the Universe is the ultimate goal of enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/discovering-the-connectedness-of-the-universe-is-the-ultimate-goal-of/) Senoraroy > [Trouble makes us one with every human being in the world - and unless we touch others, we're out of touch with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trouble-makes-us-one-with-every-human-being-in-the-world-and-unless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 153 Connectedness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connectedness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The near explains the far. 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