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Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes - Page 145

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A friend, therefore, is a sort of paradox in nature. I who alone am, I who see nothing in nature whose existence I can affirm with equal evidence to my own, behold now the semblance of my being, in all its height,

A friend, therefore, is a sort of paradox in nature. I who alone am, I who see nothing in nature whose existence I can affirm with equal evidence to my own, behold now the semblance of my being, in all its height, variety, and curiosity, reiterated in a foreign form; so that a friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Real, Curiosity, May
Ralph Waldo Emerson (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson (Illustrated)”, p.1342, Delphi Classics

They think him the best dressed man, whose dress is so fit for his use that you cannot notice or remember to describe it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fashion, Men, Thinking
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1866). “The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Comprising His Essays, Lectures, Poems, and Orations”, p.37

Frankness invites frankness.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Trust, Truth, Honesty
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1857). “Essays: First Series”, p.215

When God lets loose a great thinker on this planet, then all things are at risk. There is not a piece of science but its flank may be turned to-morrow; nor any literary reputation or the so-called eternal names of fame that many not be refused and condemned.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Names, Risk, Pieces

By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set to-day a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Memories, Spring, Sleep
"Concord Hymn" l. 1 (1837)

What potent blood hath modest May.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Spring, Blood, May
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1875). “May-day and Other Pieces”, p.12

Heaven always bears some proportion to earth. The god of the cannibal will be a cannibal, of the crusades a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Humility, Heaven, Bears
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1870). “The Prose Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Volume II”, p.425

If I should go out of church whenever I hear a false sentiment, I could never stay there five minutes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Atheist, Church, Minutes
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1960). “Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks: 1841-1843”, p.161, Harvard University Press

To this military attitude of the soul we give the name of Heroism... It is a self-trust which slights the restraints of prudence, in the plenitude of its energy and power to repair the harms it may suffer. The hero is a mind of such balance that no disturbances can shake his will.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Attitude, Military, Hero
Ralph Waldo Emerson (2012). “The Selected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson”, p.80, Graphic Arts Books

There is one topic peremptorily forbidden to all well-bred, to all rational mortals, namely, their distempers. If you have not slept or if you have slept or if you have head ache or sciatica or leprosy or thunder-stroke, I beseech you, by all angels, to hold your peace and not pollute the morning.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Morning, Attitude, Angel
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1866). “The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Comprising His Essays, Lectures, Poems, and Orations”, p.392

Strong men greet war, tempest, hard times. They wish, as Pindar said, to tread the floors of hell, with necessities as hard as iron.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Strong, War, Adversity
Ralph Waldo Emerson (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson (Illustrated)”, p.2631, Delphi Classics

Extremes meet, and there is no better example than the naughtiness of humility.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Humility, Pride, Example

Science is nothing but the finding of analogy, identity, in the most remote parts.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Identity, Analogies, Findings
Ralph Waldo Emerson (2009). “The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson”, p.45, Modern Library

The possibility of interpretation lies in the identity of the observer with the observed. Each material thing has its celestial side; has its translation, through humanity, into the spiritual and necessary sphere, where it plays a part as indestructible as any other.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Spiritual, Lying, Play
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1850). “Representative Men: Seven Lectures”, p.7

One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nature, Eye, Identity

Columbus discovered no isle or key so lonely as himself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lonely, Loneliness, Discovery
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1981). “The Portable Emerson: New Edition”, p.282, Penguin

The passive master lent his hand, To the vast Soul which o'er him planned.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tombstone, Hands, Soul
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The Problem”

So far as a person thinks; they are free.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Freedom, Thinking, Persons

I know and see too well, when not voluntarily blind, the speedy limits opersons called high and worthy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Men, Limits, Blind
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1848). “Essays, Orations and Lectures”, p.177

A mob is a society obodies, voluntarily bereaving themselves oreason, and traversing its work. The mob is man, voluntarily descending to the nature othe beast. Its fit hour oactivity is night; its actions are insane, like its whole constitution.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Night, Men, Insane

I find nothing in fables more astonishing than my experience in every hour. One moment of a man's life is a fact so stupendous as to take the luster out of fiction.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Time, Men, Fiction
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1979). “The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Lectures and biographical sketches”

The dearest events are summer-rain.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Summer, Rain, Events
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1983). “Essays and Lectures”, p.473, Library of America

Life is a series of surprises.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life, Anticipation, Surprise
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1983). “Essays and Lectures”, p.483, Library of America

Life is a boundless privilege, and when you pay for your ticket, and get into the car, you have no guess what good company you shall find there.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life, Car, Pay
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Barbara L. Packer, Joseph Slater, Douglas Emory Wilson (2003). “The Conduct of Life”, p.139, Harvard University Press

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

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Drinking, Alcohol, World
Ralph Waldo Emerson (2011). “Selected Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson”, p.199, Penguin

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