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Ralph Waldo Emerson

137 quotes

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. His essays, including "Self-Reliance" and "Nature," champion individuality, freedom, and the inherent goodness of people and nature. He remains one of America's most influential thinkers.

“We are by nature observers, and thereby learners. That is our permanent state.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature

All Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Anger

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friendship

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

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Men

“The best effort of a fine person is felt after we have left their presence.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Best

“Great hearts steadily send forth the secret forces that incessantly draw great events.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great

“Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great

“We see God face to face every hour, and know the savor of Nature.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

God

“In the morning a man walks with his whole body in the evening, only with his legs.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Morning

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

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wisdom

“Every actual State is corrupt. Good men must not obey laws too well.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good

“Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Courage

“We gain the strength of the temptation we resist.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Strength

“Beauty is an outward gift, which is seldom despised, except by those to whom it has been refused.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beauty

“Doing well is the result of doing good. That's what capitalism is all about.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good

“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.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Men

“It is one of the beautiful compensations in this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life

“Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force - that thoughts rule the world.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great

“Truth is beautiful, without doubt but so are lies.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Truth

“Money often costs too much.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Money

“It is a fact often observed, that men have written good verses under the inspiration of passion, who cannot write well under other circumstances.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good