--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are many eyes that can detect and…" description: "\"There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent and household virtues; there are many that can discern Genius on his starry track, though the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg" --- # There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent… ![“There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent and household virtues; there are many that can discern Genius on his starry track, though the mob is incapable; but when that love which is all-suffering, all-abstaining, all-aspiring, which has vowed to itself, that it will be a wretch and…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg) > “There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent and household virtues; there are many that can discern Genius on his starry track, though the mob is incapable; but when that love which is all-suffering, all-abstaining, all-aspiring, which has vowed to itself, that it will be a wretch and also a fool in this world, sooner than soil its white hands by any compliances, comes into our streets and houses,--only the pure and aspiring can know its face, and the only compliment they can pay it, is to own it.” [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 contrasts superficial admiration with deep, selfless love that only the pure can recognize, urging humility and inner virtue over external praise. **In simple terms:** True love is humble and known only to the pure. Key Takeaway Cultivate selfless love, not vanity. Themes humility love virtue self‑recognition Mood contemplative reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - community building - spiritual practice Key Concepts self‑transcendence inner purity spiritual integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize selfless love in everyday life? - What sacrifices does true love demand? A Different Perspective Pure love may be misunderstood or ignored by the masses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstaining/) [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Compliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliance/) [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Discern Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discern-genius-1392469/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Household](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/household/) [Household Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/household-virtues-1392471/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-christ/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Prudent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudent/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redemption/) [Soil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soil/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Discern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-discern-1392468/) [Vowed Wretch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vowed-wretch-1392470/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [To be disciplined does not mean being silent, abstaining, or doing only what one thinks one may undertake without risk; it is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/to-be-disciplined-does-not-mean-being-silent-abstaining-or-doing-only/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live under the government of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The trail of the serpent reaches into all the lucrative professions and practices of man. Each has its own wrongs. Each finds a tender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-trail-of-the-serpent-reaches-into-all-the-lucrative-professions/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In this our talking America, we are ruined by our good nature and listening on all sides. This compliance takes away the power ofbeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-this-our-talking-america-we-are-ruined-by-our-good-nature-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Jesus isn't coming for a church that's gritting her teeth, struggling to stay free from sin, secretly wishing she could indulge in a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/jesus-isn-t-coming-for-a-church-that-s-gritting-her-teeth-struggling/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [“Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/abstaining-from-speech-marks-him-who-is-obeying-the-spontaneity-of/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [I'm the worst ad anyone could possibly be for abstaining from anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-roper/i-m-the-worst-ad-anyone-could-possibly-be-for-abstaining-from-anything/) [Matt Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-roper/) > [“Virtue consists not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wiltz/virtue-consists-not-in-abstaining-from-vice-but-in-not-desiring-it-she/) [Christine Wiltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-wiltz/) > [“Freedom from activity is never achieved by abstaining from action. Nobody can become perfect by merely ceasing to act. In fact, nobody can ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-from-activity-is-never-achieved-by-abstaining-from-action/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Abstaining so as really to enjoy, is the epicurism, the very perfection, of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/abstaining-so-as-really-to-enjoy-is-the-epicurism-the-very-perfection/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [This is not what anyone wants to hear, just like somebody who wants to lose weight doesn't want to hear 'diet and exercise,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/this-is-not-what-anyone-wants-to-hear-just-like-somebody-who-wants-to/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [It was palpable, all that wanting: Mother wanting something more, Dad wanting something more, everyone wanting something more. This wasn't going to do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taylor-fleming/it-was-palpable-all-that-wanting-mother-wanting-something-more-dad/) [Anne Taylor Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taylor-fleming/) > [If there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their beloved, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-there-were-only-some-way-of-contriving-that-a-state-or-an-army/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Give a child the habit of sacredly regarding the truth - of carefully respecting the property of others - of scrupulously abstaining from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/give-a-child-the-habit-of-sacredly-regarding-the-truth-of-carefully/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [Paraphrased: The way of al-Junayd includes among other things abstaining constantly from resisting God Most High in whatever happens to one, whether good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ata-allah/paraphrased-the-way-of-al-junayd-includes-among-other-things/) [Ibn Ata Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ata-allah/) ## 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 Abstaining quotes > [Paraphrased: The way of al-Junayd includes among other things abstaining constantly from resisting God Most High in whatever happens to one, whether good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ata-allah/paraphrased-the-way-of-al-junayd-includes-among-other-things/) [Ibn Ata Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ata-allah/) > [Give a child the habit of sacredly regarding the truth - of carefully respecting the property of others - of scrupulously abstaining from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/give-a-child-the-habit-of-sacredly-regarding-the-truth-of-carefully/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [If there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their beloved, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-there-were-only-some-way-of-contriving-that-a-state-or-an-army/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It was palpable, all that wanting: Mother wanting something more, Dad wanting something more, everyone wanting something more. This wasn't going to do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taylor-fleming/it-was-palpable-all-that-wanting-mother-wanting-something-more-dad/) [Anne Taylor Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taylor-fleming/) > [This is not what anyone wants to hear, just like somebody who wants to lose weight doesn't want to hear 'diet and exercise,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/this-is-not-what-anyone-wants-to-hear-just-like-somebody-who-wants-to/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [Abstaining so as really to enjoy, is the epicurism, the very perfection, of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/abstaining-so-as-really-to-enjoy-is-the-epicurism-the-very-perfection/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“Freedom from activity is never achieved by abstaining from action. Nobody can become perfect by merely ceasing to act. In fact, nobody can ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-from-activity-is-never-achieved-by-abstaining-from-action/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Virtue consists not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wiltz/virtue-consists-not-in-abstaining-from-vice-but-in-not-desiring-it-she/) [Christine Wiltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-wiltz/) > [I'm the worst ad anyone could possibly be for abstaining from anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-roper/i-m-the-worst-ad-anyone-could-possibly-be-for-abstaining-from-anything/) [Matt Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-roper/) > [“Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/abstaining-from-speech-marks-him-who-is-obeying-the-spontaneity-of/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Jesus isn't coming for a church that's gritting her teeth, struggling to stay free from sin, secretly wishing she could indulge in a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/jesus-isn-t-coming-for-a-church-that-s-gritting-her-teeth-struggling/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [To be disciplined does not mean being silent, abstaining, or doing only what one thinks one may undertake without risk; it is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/to-be-disciplined-does-not-mean-being-silent-abstaining-or-doing-only/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war, but on the love of peace. It will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-wouk/peace-if-it-ever-exists-will-not-be-based-on-the-fear-of-war-but-on/) [Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-wouk/) > [Temperance referred not abstaining, but going the right length and no further...of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/temperance-referred-not-abstaining-but-going-the-right-length-and-no/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [My definition of sobriety is to be in full control and not feel drunk, but it's not abstaining for religious reasons or any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/my-definition-of-sobriety-is-to-be-in-full-control-and-not-feel-drunk/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) [Browse all 30 Abstaining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstaining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent and household virtues; there are many that can discern Genius on his starry track, though the mob is incapable; but when that love which is all-suffering, all-abstaining, all-aspiring, which has vowed to itself, that it will be a wretch and also a fool in this world, sooner than soil its white hands by any compliances, comes into our streets and houses,--only the pure and aspiring can know its face, and the only compliment they can pay it, is to own it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and-honor-the-prudent-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abstaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and-honor-the-prudent-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and_2536409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are many eyes that can detect and honor the prudent and household virtues; there are many that can…” — 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": "There are many eyes that can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and-honor-the-prudent-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-are-many-eyes-that-can-detect-and-honor-the-prudent-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 } } ] } ```