Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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
Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.

Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
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.

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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every artist was first an amateur.

Every artist was first an amateur.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
People do not seem to realise that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.

People do not seem to realise that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
To be great is to be misunderstood.

To be great is to be misunderstood.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
You become what you think about all day long.

You become what you think about all day long.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Envy is ignorance, 
Imitation is Suicide.

Envy is ignorance, Imitation is Suicide.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine.

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest things we can know.

When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest things we can know.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting some on yourself.

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting some on yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourself.

It is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.

The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis.

Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is creative reading as well as creative writing.

There is creative reading as well as creative writing.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing external to you has any power over you.

Nothing external to you has any power over you.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.

In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.

Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.

I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nature and Books belong to the eyes that see them.

Nature and Books belong to the eyes that see them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God.

Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.

That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.

The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends imprisoned by an enchanter in paper and leathern boxes.

In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends imprisoned by an enchanter in paper and leathern boxes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.

Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
People only see what they are prepared to see.

People only see what they are prepared to see.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.

Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up

Ralph Waldo Emerson
All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.

All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
You are constantly invited to be what you are.

You are constantly invited to be what you are.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Some books leave us free and some books make us free.

Some books leave us free and some books make us free.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser, sees newly every time he looks at the object beloved, drawing from it with his eyes and his mind those virtues which it possesses.

He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser, sees newly every time he looks at the object beloved, drawing from it with his eyes and his mind those virtues which it possesses.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life is a series of surprises and would not be worth taking or keeping if it were not.

Life is a series of surprises and would not be worth taking or keeping if it were not.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
We are always getting ready to live but never living.

We are always getting ready to live but never living.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Love, and you shall be loved.

Love, and you shall be loved.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Beauty without expression is boring.

Beauty without expression is boring.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.

You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can offer with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation, but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.

Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can offer with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation, but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.

None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work but the solidest things we know.

Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work but the solidest things we know.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fear always springs
from ignorance.

Fear always springs from ignorance.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you were born you were crying and everyone else was smiling. Live your life so at the end, your're the one who is smiling and everyone else is crying.

When you were born you were crying and everyone else was smiling. Live your life so at the end, your're the one who is smiling and everyone else is crying.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The years teach much the days never know.

The years teach much the days never know.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Be good to your work, your word, and your friend.

Be good to your work, your word, and your friend.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Even in the mud and scum of things, something always, always sings.

Even in the mud and scum of things, something always, always sings.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every wall is a door.

Every wall is a door.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
A child is a curly, dimpled lunatic.

A child is a curly, dimpled lunatic.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil. It is not for you to choose what he shall know, what he shall do. It is chosen and foreordained and he only holds the key to his own secret.

The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil. It is not for you to choose what he shall know, what he shall do. It is chosen and foreordained and he only holds the key to his own secret.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
The wise man in the storm prays God not for safety from danger but for deliverance from fear.

The wise man in the storm prays God not for safety from danger but for deliverance from fear.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and adore.

If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and adore.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
We acquire the strength we have overcome.

We acquire the strength we have overcome.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.

Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the highest civilization, the book is still the highest delight. He who has once known its satisfactions is provided with a resource against calamity.

In the highest civilization, the book is still the highest delight. He who has once known its satisfactions is provided with a resource against calamity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.

Ralph Waldo Emerson