Prudence is the virtue of the senses. It is the science of appearances. It is the outmost action of the inward life. Ralph Waldo Emerson More Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson More Quotes From Ralph Waldo Emerson Our first mistake is the belief that the circumstance gives the joy which we give to the circumstance. Ralph Waldo Emerson mistake happiness giving The astonishment of life is the absence of any appearances of reconciliation between the theory and the practice of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson astonishment practice philosophy We love force and we care very little how it is exhibited. Ralph Waldo Emerson care littles love Every individual man has a bias which he must obey, and...it is only as he feels and obeys this that he rightly develops and attains his legitimate power in the world. It is his magnetic needle, which points always in one direction to his proper path.... He is never happy nor strong until he finds it, keeps it. Ralph Waldo Emerson one-direction strong men Live in the fields, and God will give you lectures on natural philosophy every day. Ralph Waldo Emerson tree giving philosophy America means opportunity, freedom, power. Ralph Waldo Emerson military opportunity mean For all our penny-wisdom, for all our soul-destroying slavery to habit, it is not to be doubted that all men have sublime thoughts; that all men value the few real hours of life; they love to be heard; they love to be caught up into the vision of principles. We mark with light in the memory the few interviews we have had, in the dreary years of routine and of sin, with souls that made our souls wiser; that spoke what we thought; that told us what we knew; that gave us leave to be what we only were. Ralph Waldo Emerson real character memories Nature is reckless of the individual. When she has points to carry, she carries them. Ralph Waldo Emerson reckless individual nature Nature arms each man with some faculty which enables him to do easily some feat impossible to any other, and thus makes him necessary to society. ... Society can never prosper, but must always be bankrupt, until every man does that which he was created to do. Ralph Waldo Emerson age doe men An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man. Ralph Waldo Emerson self-reliance shadow men Success in your work, the finding a better method, the better understanding that insures the better performing is hat and coat, is food and wine, is fire and horse and health and holiday. At least, I find that any success in my work has the effect on my spirits of all these. Ralph Waldo Emerson horse wine success There is nothing in history to parallel the influence of Jesus Christ. Ralph Waldo Emerson influence jesus christ Defect in manners is usually the defect of fine perceptions. Elegance comes of no breeding, but of birth. Ralph Waldo Emerson elegance birth perception The light by which we see in this world comes out from the soul of the observer. Wherever any noble sentiment dwelt, it made the faces and houses around to shine. Nay, the powers of this busy brain are miraculous and illimitable. Ralph Waldo Emerson shining light house Love is like wildflowers; Ralph Waldo Emerson unlikely wildflowers love-is Eloquence shows the power and possibility of man. There is one of whom we took no note, but on a certain occasion it appears that he has a secret virtue never suspected - that he can paint what has occurred and what must occur, with such clearness to a company, as if they saw it done before their eyes. By leading their thought he leads their will, and can make them do gladly what an hour ago they would not believe that they could be led to do at all. Ralph Waldo Emerson eye men believe We pass for what we are. Character teaches above our wills. Men imagine that they communicate thier virtue or vice by overt actions, and do not see that virtue or vice emit a breath ever moment....One tendency unites them all. The voyage of the best ship is a zsig zag line of a hundred tacks. See the line from a sufficent distance and it straightens itslef to the average tendency. Ralph Waldo Emerson distance character men All conservatives are such from personal defects. They have been effiminated by position of nature, born halt and blind, through luxury of their parents, and can only, like invalids, act on the defensive. Ralph Waldo Emerson luxury parent nature Conformity is the ape of harmony. Ralph Waldo Emerson apes conformity peace Proportion is almost impossible to human beings. There is no one who does not exaggerate. Ralph Waldo Emerson impossible doe peace
