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100 Great Quotes By Ralph Waldo Emerson That Will Give New Direction To Your Life

Famous As: Famous For his Essay 'Nature' and Speech Entitled 'The American Scholar'
Born On: May 25, 1803
Died On: April 27, 1882
Born In: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died At Age: 78
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Ralph Waldo Emerson was a linchpin of the American Romantic Movement. An essayist, lecturer and poet, Emerson led the transcendentalist movement of the 19th century and gave American literature its new highs. He was a champion of individualism and a critic of the countervailing pressures of the society. Interestingly, Emerson too was bowed down by the religious and social beliefs of his contemporaries but he soon drifted away from it, formulating the philosophy of transcendentalism. Interestingly, much of Emerson’s works today are actually revised version of his lectures. He has to his credit more than 1500 public lectures and a dozen of published essays. His first two collections of essays, ‘Essays: First Series’ and ‘Essays: Second Series’ represent the core of his thinking. They include some of his well-known works such as ‘Self-Reliance’, ‘The Over-Soul’, ‘The Poet’ and ‘Experience’ and ‘Nature’. Emerson’s philosophies and beliefs can also be seen in his quotes that touch various aspects of life and living. They are inspirational and motivating and give a new outlook to things and situation. Go through this section and brief yourself with some of the quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.

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

Ralph Waldo Emerson
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Always do what you are afraid to do.

Always do what you are afraid to do.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.

I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.

Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.

Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is not the length of life, but the depth.

It is not the length of life, but the depth.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The earth laughs in flowers.

The earth laughs in flowers.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.

Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Make the most of yourself....for that is all there is of you.

Make the most of yourself....for that is all there is of you.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
A great man is always willing to be little.

A great man is always willing to be little.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The only way to have a friend is to be one.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.

Ralph Waldo Emerson