--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may climb into the thin and cold realm…" description: "\"We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. Between these extremes is the equator ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_belts_we-may-climb-into-the-thin-and-cold-real_1023158.png" --- # We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry… ![“We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. Between these extremes is the equator of life, of thought, or spirit, or poetry,--a narrow belt.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_belts_we-may-climb-into-the-thin-and-cold-real_1023158.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_belts_we-may-climb-into-the-thin-and-cold-real_1023158.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_belts_we-may-climb-into-the-thin-and-cold-real_1023158.png) > “We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. Between these extremes is the equator of life, of thought, or spirit, or poetry,--a narrow belt.” [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 metaphorical contrast between cold rationality and warm sensation, urging balance at life's equator. **In simple terms:** Balance reason and feeling. Key Takeaway Cultivate both mind and heart. Themes reason emotion balance art science Mood reflective philosophical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - artistic creation - scientific inquiry Key Concepts dualism human experience creativity Questions to Reflect On - How do you find your equator? - Can reason and feeling coexist? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one side leads to imbalance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Equator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equator/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Geometry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geometry/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sensations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensations/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [The sea, washing the equator and the poles, offers its perilous aid, and the power and empire that follow it... ''Beware of me,'' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-sea-washing-the-equator-and-the-poles-offers-its-perilous-aid-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/but-it-is-a-cold-lifeless-business-when-you-go-to-the-shops-to-buy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Jealousy seems the absolute reversal of love. It is the swinging from the sunny warmth of the Equator to the frigid cold of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/jealousy-seems-the-absolute-reversal-of-love-it-is-the-swinging-from/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“There isn’t a parallel of latitude but thinks it would have been the equator if it had had its rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-isn-t-a-parallel-of-latitude-but-thinks-it-would-have-been-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think that the equator could act as a great equalizer for all life on Earth, celebrated as the great energy belt of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-think-that-the-equator-could-act-as-a-great-equalizer-for-all-life/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [There is an equator that runs just under the nose: all that live below the equator are animals; all that live above it are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-is-an-equator-that-runs-just-under-the-nose-all-that-live-below/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [One day one of my little nephews came up to me and asked me if the equator was a real line that went around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/one-day-one-of-my-little-nephews-came-up-to-me-and-asked-me-if-the/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Someone has said that to plagiarise from the ancients is to play the pirate beyond the Equator, but that to steal from the moderns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/someone-has-said-that-to-plagiarise-from-the-ancients-is-to-play-the/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [“This general flattening of objects that rotate is why Earth’s pole-to-pole diameter is smaller than its diameter at the equator. Not by much: three-tenths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/this-general-flattening-of-objects-that-rotate-is-why-earth-s-pole-to/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The 3.5 billion unreached people on earth would form a single file line that would stretch around the equator 25 times! Can you picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-stockstill/the-3-5-billion-unreached-people-on-earth-would-form-a-single-file/) Larry Stockstill > [Supersonic bionic robot voodoo power Equator ex my chance to flex skills on Ampex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kool-keith/supersonic-bionic-robot-voodoo-power-equator-ex-my-chance-to-flex/) [Kool Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kool-keith/) > [“The equator is a sign of equality, splitting the earth into two equal halves. Unfortunately, the equator also splits the earth into mostly two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-equator-is-a-sign-of-equality-splitting-the-earth-into-two-equal/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills. The Equator runs across these highlands, a hundred miles to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/i-had-a-farm-in-africa-at-the-foot-of-the-ngong-hills-the-equator/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [You can't be at the pole and the equator at the same time. You must choose your own line, as I hope to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/you-can-t-be-at-the-pole-and-the-equator-at-the-same-time-you-must/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [You are so fat, you use your belt to measure the Earth's equator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-so-fat-you-use-your-belt-to-measure-the-earth-s-equator/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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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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 Belts quotes > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I find it frustrating when people wear belts with braces. That's an interesting one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-find-it-frustrating-when-people-wear-belts-with-braces-that-s-an/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [A lot of the time, if I have samples, I can't tailor a sample. Or, I might have just bought something and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-palermo/a-lot-of-the-time-if-i-have-samples-i-can-t-tailor-a-sample-or-i/) [Olivia Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-palermo/) > [There's an expectation these days that novels - like any other consumer product - should be made on a production line, with one dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/there-s-an-expectation-these-days-that-novels-like-any-other-consumer/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [What is golden is miles under your belt, miles, miles, miles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/what-is-golden-is-miles-under-your-belt-miles-miles-miles/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [I don't just want the belt, I want every one of their heads on a plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-don-t-just-want-the-belt-i-want-every-one-of-their-heads-on-a-plate/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [To pray only when in peril is to use safety belts only in heavy traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/to-pray-only-when-in-peril-is-to-use-safety-belts-only-in-heavy/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) Dan Carter > [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Microsoft is still not a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kutaragi/microsoft-is-still-not-a-black-belt/) [Ken Kutaragi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kutaragi/) > [It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-to-think-about-the-violent-ways-snakes-lizards/) [Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/) > [Sorry,” he said. “Let me drop the belt-" “No.” She held on when he would have pulled away. “Don’t. I like it.” Again, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/sorry-he-said-let-me-drop-the-belt-no-she-held-on-when-he-would-have/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [How'd we come up with the robe? Was some guy just like, 'Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't we make a coat out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/how-d-we-come-up-with-the-robe-was-some-guy-just-like-hey-i-ve-got-an/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) Browse all 497 Belts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. 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