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Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) was an American essayist, philosopher, and poet, best remembered for leading the Transcendentalist movement of the mid 19th century. His teachings directly influenced the growing New Thought movement of the mid 1800s. He was seen as a champion of...
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Conversation is an art in which a man has all mankind for his competitors, for it is that which all are practising every day while they live.

Conversation is an art in which a man has all mankind for his competitors, for it is that which all are practising every day while they live.

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Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations. The only sin is limitation. As soon as you once come up with a man's limitations, it is all over with him.

Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations. The only sin is limitation. As soon as you once come up with a man's limitations, it is all over with him.

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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.

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  • 1841

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Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

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Murder in the murderer is no such ruinous thought as poets and romancers will have it; it does not unsettle him, or fright him from his ordinary notice of trifles; it is an act quite easy to be contemplated.

Murder in the murderer is no such ruinous thought as poets and romancers will have it; it does not unsettle him, or fright him from his ordinary notice of trifles; it is an act quite easy to be contemplated.

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Every burned book or house enlightens the world; every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side.

Every burned book or house enlightens the world; every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side.

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A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.

A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.

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Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it. Many will read the book before one thinks of quoting a passage. As soon as he has done this, that line will be quoted east and west.

Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it. Many will read the book before one thinks of quoting a passage. As soon as he has done this, that line will be quoted east and west.

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Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.

Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.

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All promise outruns performance.

All promise outruns performance.

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A man's library is a sort of harem.

A man's library is a sort of harem.

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It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford not to conciliate, whose faithful work will answer for him.

It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford not to conciliate, whose faithful work will answer for him.

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Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.

Give no bounties: make equal laws: secure life and prosperity and you need not give alms.

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There are books which take rank in your life with parents and lovers and passionate experiences, so medicinal, so stringent, so revolutionary, so authoritative.

There are books which take rank in your life with parents and lovers and passionate experiences, so medicinal, so stringent, so revolutionary, so authoritative.

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The rich mind lies in the sun and sleeps, and is Nature.

The rich mind lies in the sun and sleeps, and is Nature.

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People wish to be settled. It is only as far as they are unsettled that there is any hope for them.

People wish to be settled. It is only as far as they are unsettled that there is any hope for them.

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Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.

Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.

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When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.

When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.

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See only that thou work and thou canst not escape the reward.

See only that thou work and thou canst not escape the reward.

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We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten.

We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten.

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That which we call sin in others, is experiment for us.

That which we call sin in others, is experiment for us.

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Things said for conversation are chalk eggs. Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.

Things said for conversation are chalk eggs. Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.

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Not gold but only men can makeA people great and strong;Men who for truth and honors sakeStand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep,Who dare while others flyThey build a nations pillars deepAnd lift them to the sky.

Not gold but only men can makeA people great and strong;Men who for truth and honors sakeStand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep,Who dare while others flyThey build a nations pillars deepAnd lift them to the sky.

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There is properly no history; only biography.

There is properly no history; only biography.

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Of course, money will do after its kind, and will steadily work to unspiritualize and unchurch the people to whom it was bequeathed.

Of course, money will do after its kind, and will steadily work to unspiritualize and unchurch the people to whom it was bequeathed.

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Classic art was the art of necessity: modern romantic art bears the stamp of caprice and chance.

Classic art was the art of necessity: modern romantic art bears the stamp of caprice and chance.

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Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.

Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.

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As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect.

As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect.

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Raphael paints wisdom; Handel sings it, Phidias carves it, Shakespeare writes it, Wren builds it, Columbus sails it, Luther preaches it, Washington arms it, Watt mechanizes it.

Raphael paints wisdom; Handel sings it, Phidias carves it, Shakespeare writes it, Wren builds it, Columbus sails it, Luther preaches it, Washington arms it, Watt mechanizes it.

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The most dangerous thing is illusion.

The most dangerous thing is illusion.

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Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

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Men talk as if victory were something fortunate. Work is victory.

Men talk as if victory were something fortunate. Work is victory.

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Intellectual tasting of life will not supersede muscular activity.

Intellectual tasting of life will not supersede muscular activity.

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Fate, then, is a name for facts not yet passed under the fire of thought; for causes which are unpenetrated.

Fate, then, is a name for facts not yet passed under the fire of thought; for causes which are unpenetrated.

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In every society some men are born to rule, and some to advise.

In every society some men are born to rule, and some to advise.

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So far as a person thinks; they are free.

So far as a person thinks; they are free.

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Our faith comes in moments... yet there is a depth in those brief moments which constrains us to ascribe more reality to them than to all other experiences.

Our faith comes in moments... yet there is a depth in those brief moments which constrains us to ascribe more reality to them than to all other experiences.

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Our strength grows out of our weakness.

Our strength grows out of our weakness.

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We must hold a man amenable to reason for the choice of his daily craft or profession. It is not an excuse any longer for his deeds that they are the custom of his trade. What business has he with an evil trade?

We must hold a man amenable to reason for the choice of his daily craft or profession. It is not an excuse any longer for his deeds that they are the custom of his trade. What business has he with an evil trade?

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There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrate to some stroke of the imagination.

There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrate to some stroke of the imagination.

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The highest compact we can make with our fellow is --Let there be truth between us two forevermore.

The highest compact we can make with our fellow is --Let there be truth between us two forevermore.

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The President has paid dear for his White House. It has commonly cost him all his peace, and the best of his manly attributes. To preserve for a short time so conspicuous an appearance before the world, he is content to eat dust before the real masters who stand erect behind the throne.

The President has paid dear for his White House. It has commonly cost him all his peace, and the best of his manly attributes. To preserve for a short time so conspicuous an appearance before the world, he is content to eat dust before the real masters who stand erect behind the throne.

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Whatever limits us we call fate.

Whatever limits us we call fate.

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Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. This you cannot do without temperance.

Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. This you cannot do without temperance.

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Everything in Nature contains all the powers of Nature. Everything is made of hidden stuff.

Everything in Nature contains all the powers of Nature. Everything is made of hidden stuff.

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Nature... She pardons no mistakes. Her yea is yea, and her nay, nay.

Nature... She pardons no mistakes. Her yea is yea, and her nay, nay.

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If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap, than his neighbor, though he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door.

If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap, than his neighbor, though he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door.

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Good breeding, a union of kindness and independence.

Good breeding, a union of kindness and independence.

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No man ever prayed heartily without learning something.

No man ever prayed heartily without learning something.

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There is this to be said in favor of drinking, that it takes the drunkard first out of society, then out of the world.

There is this to be said in favor of drinking, that it takes the drunkard first out of society, then out of the world.

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Men's actions are too strong for them. Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action.

Men's actions are too strong for them. Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action.

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That which we call character is a reserved force which acts directly by presence, and without means. It is conceived of as a certain undemonstrable force, a familiar or genius, by whose impulses the man is guided, but whose counsels he cannot impart.

That which we call character is a reserved force which acts directly by presence, and without means. It is conceived of as a certain undemonstrable force, a familiar or genius, by whose impulses the man is guided, but whose counsels he cannot impart.

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Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.

Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.

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Every advantage has its tax.

Every advantage has its tax.

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For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?

For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?

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Cities give us collision. 'Tis said, London and New York take the nonsense out of a man.

Cities give us collision. 'Tis said, London and New York take the nonsense out of a man.

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By persisting in your path, though you forfeit the little, you gain the great.

By persisting in your path, though you forfeit the little, you gain the great.

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It is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes the world more than the world can pay.

It is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes the world more than the world can pay.

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The faith that stands on authority is not faith.

The faith that stands on authority is not faith.

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Society always consists in the greatest part, of young and foolish persons.

Society always consists in the greatest part, of young and foolish persons.

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