Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Ralph Waldo Emerson, who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, minister, abolitionist, and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champion of individualism and critical thinking, as well as a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society and conformity. Friedrich Nietzsche thought he was "the most gifted of the Americans," and Walt Whitman called Emerson his "master".

Quotes

Colleges hate geniuses, just as convents hate saints.
Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors.
...the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness, the independence of solitude.
There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide.
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
For each thorn, there's a rosebud...
for each twilight — a dawn...
for each trial — the strength to carry on,
For each stormcloud — a rainbow...
for each shadow — the sun...
for each parting — sweet memories
when sorrow is done.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invated by worry, fret and anxiety.
If eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being.
I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show for any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
Before we acquire great power, we must acquire wisdom to use it well.
The glory of friendship is not the outstreched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.
What can we see, read, acquire, but ourselves. Take the book, my friend, and read your eyes out, you will never find there what I find.
Common sense is as rare as genius.
Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.
Envy is ignorance, imitation is suicide.
Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could.
What a new face courage puts on everything.
Some men's words I remember so well that I must often use them to express my thought. Yes, because I perceive that we have heard the same truth, but they have heard it better.
No one ever stated their troubles
As lightly as they might.

‹ Prev

Next ›