--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whilst I adore this ineffable life which…" description: "\"“Whilst I adore this ineffable life which is at my heart, it will not condescend to gossip with me, it will not announce to me any particulars of scien..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg" --- # Whilst I adore this ineffable life which is at my heart… ![“Whilst I adore this ineffable life which is at my heart, it will not condescend to gossip with me, it will not announce to me any particulars of science, it will not enter into the details of my biography, and say to me why I have a son and daughters born to me, or why my son dies in his sixth…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg) > ““Whilst I adore this ineffable life which is at my heart, it will not condescend to gossip with me, it will not announce to me any particulars of science, it will not enter into the details of my biography, and say to me why I have a son and daughters born to me, or why my son dies in his sixth year of life. Herein, then I have this latent omniscience coexistent with omnigorance. Moreover, whilst this Deity glows at the heart, and by his unlimited presentiments gives me all Power, I know that to-morrow will be as this day, I am a dwarf, and I remain a dwarf. That is to say, I believe in Fate. As long as I am weak, I shall talk of Fate; whenever the God fills me with his fullness, I shall see the disappearance of Fate. I am defeated all the time; yet to Victory I am born.”” [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 speaker sees life as a mysterious, indifferent force, acknowledging fate while seeking divine power, feeling both powerless and victorious. **In simple terms:** Life feels mysterious and fate‑bound, yet divine strength offers hope. Key Takeaway Accept limits, seek inner strength. Themes fate divine power human limitation self‑reflection Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative work - spiritual practice - decision making Key Concepts existentialism spirituality self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance acceptance of fate with personal agency? - What role does divine inspiration play in your goals? A Different Perspective Divine power may be illusory; fate may dominate despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“Dwarf down! I say again, Dwarf down! Don’t trust the Elves!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chatfield/dwarf-down-i-say-again-dwarf-down-don-t-trust-the-elves/) [Michael Chatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chatfield/) > [“My mom used to talk about fate all the time, and I think you’re it… you’re my fate. You were brought to me for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/my-mom-used-to-talk-about-fate-all-the-time-and-i-think-you-re-it-you/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [Statesman only talk of fate when they have blundered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/statesman-only-talk-of-fate-when-they-have-blundered/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [It's never luck or fate, it's God's perfect plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-samuel/it-s-never-luck-or-fate-it-s-god-s-perfect-plan/) Stephen Samuel > [ “\[...\] And suddenly Vincent clearly realised what his subconsciousness had known for a long time. All the talks about God are just childish elusion,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/and-suddenly-vincent-clearly-realised-what-his-subconsciousness-had/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [That which makes man the mere plaything of fate is God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/that-which-makes-man-the-mere-plaything-of-fate-is-god/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I never believed in fate or god, neither did I worshipped or prayed and I don't care if they burn me, or bury me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumit-khanal/i-never-believed-in-fate-or-god-neither-did-i-worshipped-or-prayed/) [SUMIT KHANAL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumit-khanal/) > [“I sing the progress of a deathless soul, Whom Fate, which God made, but doth not control, Placed in most shapes; all times before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/i-sing-the-progress-of-a-deathless-soul-whom-fate-which-god-made-but/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Stop blaming Fate or God for what has happened!!! its solely his or her Desire & willingness to hurt u .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/stop-blaming-fate-or-god-for-what-has-happened-its-solely-his-or-her/) [KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/) > [Call it fate, call it God, I call it God, but I think that I found what I was comfortable in this world with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/call-it-fate-call-it-god-i-call-it-god-but-i-think-that-i-found-what/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [If you believe in fate, believe in it, at least, for your good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-you-believe-in-fate-believe-in-it-at-least-for-your-good/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Go face the fire at sea, or the cholera in your friend's house, or the burglar in your own, or what danger lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/go-face-the-fire-at-sea-or-the-cholera-in-your-friend-s-house-or-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We're on some path that's set since we're born, but I still believe we can change some things. So I believe in my faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rm/we-re-on-some-path-that-s-set-since-we-re-born-but-i-still-believe-we/) RM > [I do not believe in fate but its crazy how sometimes it seems that some people are meant to meet each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-believe-in-fate-but-its-crazy-how-sometimes-it-seems-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) ## 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 Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whilst I adore this ineffable life which is at my heart, it will not condescend to gossip with me, it will not announce to me any particulars of science, it will not enter into the details of my biography, and say to me why I have a son and daughters born to me, or why my son dies in his sixth year of life. Herein, then I have this latent omniscience coexistent with omnigorance. Moreover, whilst this Deity glows at the heart, and by his unlimited presentiments gives me all Power, I know that to-morrow will be as this day, I am a dwarf, and I remain a dwarf. That is to say, I believe in Fate. As long as I am weak, I shall talk of Fate; whenever the God fills me with his fullness, I shall see the disappearance of Fate. I am defeated all the time; yet to Victory I am born.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which-is-at-my-heart-it-will-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which-is-at-my-heart-it-will-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df1/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_children_whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which_2157404.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whilst I adore this ineffable life which is at my heart, it will not condescend to gossip with me, it will…” — 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": "“Whilst I adore this ineffable life...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which-is-at-my-heart-it-will-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whilst-i-adore-this-ineffable-life-which-is-at-my-heart-it-will-not/#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 } } ] } ```