--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Works of the intellect are great only by…" description: "\"Works of the intellect are great only by comparison with each other.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_comparison_works-of-the-intellect-are-great-only-by_1306217.png" --- # Works of the intellect are great only by comparison with… ![“Works of the intellect are great only by comparison with each other.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_comparison_works-of-the-intellect-are-great-only-by_1306217.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_comparison_works-of-the-intellect-are-great-only-by_1306217.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_comparison_works-of-the-intellect-are-great-only-by_1306217.png) > “Works of the intellect are great only by comparison with each other.” [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. Intellectual value emerges when ideas are compared, highlighting growth through contrast. **In simple terms:** Ideas improve when compared. Key Takeaway Encourage critical comparison of ideas. Themes knowledge comparison growth education Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic seminars - peer review - debates Key Concepts critical thinking intellectual humility dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What ideas have you compared recently? - How does comparison shape your learning? A Different Perspective Comparison can diminish unique perspectives if overemphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/character-is-higher-than-intellect-a-great-soul-will-be-strong-to-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Character is higher than intellect... 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-intellect-searches-out-the-absolute-order-of-things-as-they-stand/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We teach boys to be such men as we are. We do not teach them to aspire to be all they can. 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Culture alters the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/culture-implies-all-which-gives-the-mind-possession-of-its-own-powers/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All the facts of nature are nouns of the intellect, and make the grammar of the eternal language. Every word has a double, trebleor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-the-facts-of-nature-are-nouns-of-the-intellect-and-make-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The growth of the intellect is spontaneous in every expansion. The mind that grows could not predict the times, the means, the mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-growth-of-the-intellect-is-spontaneous-in-every-expansion-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When he has seen, that it is not his, nor any man's, but it is the soul which made the world, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-he-has-seen-that-it-is-not-his-nor-any-man-s-but-it-is-the-soul/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## 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 Comparison quotes > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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