--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This one fact the world hates; that the…" description: "\"This one fact the world hates; that the soul becomes; for that forever degrades the past, turns all riches to poverty, all reputation to a shame, confo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_degrade_this-one-fact-the-world-hates-that-the-s_430459.png" --- # This one fact the world hates; that the soul becomes; for… ![“This one fact the world hates; that the soul becomes; for that forever degrades the past, turns all riches to poverty, all reputation to a shame, confounds the saint with the rogue, shoves Jesus and Judas equally aside.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_degrade_this-one-fact-the-world-hates-that-the-s_430459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_degrade_this-one-fact-the-world-hates-that-the-s_430459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_degrade_this-one-fact-the-world-hates-that-the-s_430459.png) > “This one fact the world hates; that the soul becomes; for that forever degrades the past, turns all riches to poverty, all reputation to a shame, confounds the saint with the rogue, shoves Jesus and Judas equally aside.” [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 world despises a soul that becomes stagnant, which degrades history, turns wealth into poverty, and blurs moral distinctions. **In simple terms:** Stagnation corrupts past, wealth, and reputation, confusing good and bad. Key Takeaway Avoid stagnation; keep growing. Themes morality spirituality impermanence Mood contemplative serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - historical reflection - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts soul degradation ethical ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How does stagnation affect your life? - What practices keep your soul active? A Different Perspective The language is poetic and may be interpreted subjectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Judas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judas/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Rogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rogues/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Whilst we want cities as the centres where the best things are found, cities degrade us by magnifying trifles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whilst-we-want-cities-as-the-centres-where-the-best-things-are-found/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [What is it men love in Genius, but its infinite hope, which degrades all it has done? Genius counts all its miracles poor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-is-it-men-love-in-genius-but-its-infinite-hope-which-degrades/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Would we codify the laws that should reign in households, and whose daily transgression annoys and mortifies us, and degrades our household life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/would-we-codify-the-laws-that-should-reign-in-households-and-whose/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Cities degrade us by magnifying trifles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/cities-degrade-us-by-magnifying-trifles/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The world hates Christian people if they can see God in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-campbell-morgan/the-world-hates-christian-people-if-they-can-see-god-in-them/) [G. Campbell Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-campbell-morgan/) > [“According to Sebastian, ideas have run away with the world. He hates chain stores and fast-food restaurants, mass-produced items and fashionable clothes—any instance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-harkaway/according-to-sebastian-ideas-have-run-away-with-the-world-he-hates/) [Nick Harkaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-harkaway/) > [“It is not true that the world hates America. It is the world’s Left that hates America. However, because the Left dominates the world’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-not-true-that-the-world-hates-america-it-is-the-world-s-left/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [So if the world hates us, we take courage that it hated Jesus first. If you're wondering whether you'll be safe, just look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/so-if-the-world-hates-us-we-take-courage-that-it-hated-jesus-first-if/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [The world hates us, but the bottom line is we're gonna have to show the world why they hate us by bombing the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-walker/the-world-hates-us-but-the-bottom-line-is-we-re-gonna-have-to-show/) Jimmie Walker > [Why should you love him whom the world hates so? Because he love me more than all the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/why-should-you-love-him-whom-the-world-hates-so-because-he-love-me/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [The world hates a Jew who hits back. The world loves us only when we are to be pitied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/the-world-hates-a-jew-who-hits-back-the-world-loves-us-only-when-we/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [“And even if the world hates me, even if they never stop hating me, I will never avenge myself on an innocent person. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/and-even-if-the-world-hates-me-even-if-they-never-stop-hating-me-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Susan was having a tough day and after returning home she started complaining She said to her husband, Nobody loves me¦.nobody cares for me..the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/susan-was-having-a-tough-day-and-after-returning-home-she-started/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [How blessed to know that when the world hates us, God loves us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/how-blessed-to-know-that-when-the-world-hates-us-god-loves-us/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/the-world-hates-change-yet-it-is-the-only-thing-that-has-brought/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) ## 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. 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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 Degrade quotes > [Money degrades all the gods of man and converts them into commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-degrades-all-the-gods-of-man-and-converts-them-into-commodities/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [So far as discipline is concerned, freedom means not its absence but the use of higher and more rational forms as contrasted with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/so-far-as-discipline-is-concerned-freedom-means-not-its-absence-but/) [Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/) > [What more degrades woman today than that she so often seeks marriage as a support? 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