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 Therefore we value the poet. All the argument and all the wisdom is not in the encyclopedia, or the treatise on metaphysics, or the Body of Divinity, but in the sonnet or the play. Ralph Waldo Emerson body poetry play We may climb into the thin and cold realm of pure geometry and lifeless science, or sink into that of sensation. Between these extremes is the equator of life, of thought, or spirit, or poetry,--a narrow belt. Ralph Waldo Emerson poetry may science And of poetry, the success is not attained when it lulls and satisfies, but when it astonishes and fires us with new endeavours after the unattainable. Ralph Waldo Emerson unattainable poetry fire Great is the art, Ralph Waldo Emerson angel numbers art The rhyme of the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson politics poetry kings The charming landscape which I saw this morning is indubitably made up of some twenty or thirty farms. Miller owns this field, Locke that, and Manning the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape. There is property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all parts, that is, the poet. This is the best part of these men's farms, yet to this their warranty-deeds give no title. Ralph Waldo Emerson eye morning men To clothe the fiery thought Ralph Waldo Emerson weed simple kings For, whom the Muses smile upon, Ralph Waldo Emerson poetry wings wind Men consort in camp and town Ralph Waldo Emerson poetry inspirational men The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to the people, supplies a foundation for his edifice; and, in furnishing so much work done to his hand, leaves him at leisure, and in full strength for the audacities of his imagination. Ralph Waldo Emerson creativity hands art A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what comes uppermost, and, because he says every thing, saying, at last, something good; but a heart in unison with his time and country. There is nothing whimsical or fantastic in his production, but sweet and sad earnest, freighted with the weightiest convictions, and pointed with the most determined aim which any man or class knows of in his times. Ralph Waldo Emerson heart sweet country It is the essence of poetry to spring, like the rainbow daughter of Wonder, from the invisible, to abolish the past, and refuse all history. Ralph Waldo Emerson daughter spring past The world still wants its poet-priest, a reconciler, who shall not trifle with Shakspeare the player, nor shall grope in graves with Swedenborg the mourner; but who shall see, speak, and act, with equal inspiration. For knowledge will brighten the sunshine; right is more beautiful than private affection; and love is compatible with universal wisdom. Ralph Waldo Emerson sunshine inspiration beautiful Nor sequent centuries could hit Ralph Waldo Emerson poetry air men There is, in all great poets, a wisdom of humanity which is superior to any talents they exercise. Ralph Waldo Emerson poetry humanity exercise Criticism is infested with the cant of materialism, which assumes that manual skill and activity is the first merit of all men, and disparages such as say and do not, overlooking the fact, that some men, namely, poets, are natural sayers, sent into the world to the end of expression, and confounds them with those whose province is action, but who quit to imitate the sayers. Ralph Waldo Emerson skills expression men Milton says, that the lyric poet may drink wine and live generously, but the epic poet, he who shall sing of the gods, and their descent unto men, must drink water out of a wooden bowl. For poetry is not "Devil's wine," but God's wine. Ralph Waldo Emerson wine epic inspirational To the birds and trees he talks: Ralph Waldo Emerson rome nature home For this present, hard Ralph Waldo Emerson treasure accomplishment poetry A state of war or anarchy, in which law has little force, is so far valuable, that it puts every man on trial. The man of principle is known as such, and even in the fury of faction is respected. Ralph Waldo Emerson character men war
