It has come to be practically a sort of rule in literature that a man, having once shown himself capable of original writing, is entitled thenceforth to steal from the writings of others at discretion. Ralph Waldo Emerson More Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson More Quotes From Ralph Waldo Emerson Must we always talk for victory, and never once for truth, for comfort, and joy? Ralph Waldo Emerson comfort-and-joy victory joy Men should take their knowledge from the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson stars moon men We have a great deal more kindness than is ever spoken. (Despite) all the selfishness that chills like east winds the world, the whole human family is bathed with an element of love like a fine ether... The effect of the indulgence of this human affection is a certain cordial exhilaration. Ralph Waldo Emerson selfishness kindness wind What the tender and poetic youth dreams to-day, and conjures up with inarticulate speech, is to-morrow the vociferated result of public opinion, and the day after is the character of nations. Ralph Waldo Emerson public-opinion dream character To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest. Ralph Waldo Emerson stars fear inspirational As we are, so we do; and as we do, so is it done to us; we are the builders of our fortunes. Ralph Waldo Emerson destiny done fortune The desire of gold is not for gold. It is not the love of much wheat, and wool and household stuff. It is the means of freedom and benefit. Ralph Waldo Emerson freedom feel-good mean In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth. Ralph Waldo Emerson nature life children The good writer seems to be writing about himself, but has his eye always on that thread of the Universe which runs through himself and all things. Ralph Waldo Emerson eye writing running We are of different opinions at different hours, but we always may be said to be at heart on the side of truth. Ralph Waldo Emerson different-opinions heart may Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory. Ralph Waldo Emerson territory rights sea The prayer of the farmer kneeling in his field to weed it, the prayer of the rower kneeling with the stroke of his oar, are true prayers heard throughout nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson weed nature prayer Nature is too thin a screen; the glory of the omnipresent God bursts through everywhere Ralph Waldo Emerson glory nature god The imitator dooms himself to hopeless mediocrity. The inventor did it because it was natural to him, and so in him it has a charm. In the imitator something else is natural, and he bereaves himself of his own beauty, to come short of another man's. Ralph Waldo Emerson mediocrity music men To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. Ralph Waldo Emerson self-reliance adults sun There are some men above grief and some men below it. Ralph Waldo Emerson grief men Why should we grope among the dry bones of the past? The sun shines today also. Ralph Waldo Emerson dry-bones past thinking A man will be eloquent if you give him good wine. Ralph Waldo Emerson wine giving men The secret of ugliness consists not in irregularity, but in being uninteresting. Ralph Waldo Emerson funny-relationship secret-love being-nice The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. Ralph Waldo Emerson eye heart children
