The most active lives have so much routine as to preclude progress almost equally with the most inactive. Ralph Waldo Emerson More Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson More Quotes From Ralph Waldo Emerson Imagination is a very high sort of seeing, which does not come by study, but by the intellect being where and what it sees, by sharing the path, or circuits of things through forms, and so making them translucid to others. Ralph Waldo Emerson imagination path doe The poet knows that he speaks adequately, then, only when he speaks somewhat wildly. Ralph Waldo Emerson poet speak knows Not the sun or summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight. Ralph Waldo Emerson delight yield summer God will not make himself manifest to cowards Ralph Waldo Emerson gods-will manifest coward Music takes us out of the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startles out wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence, and whereto. Ralph Waldo Emerson who-we-are music secret Every industrious man, in every lawful calling, is a useful man. And one principal reason why men are so often useless is that they neglect their own profession or calling, and divide and shift their attention among a multiplicity of objects and pursuits. Ralph Waldo Emerson useless calling men Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each one a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into usage, they form at last a rich varnish, with which the routine of life is washed, and its details adorned. If they are superficial, so are the dew-drops which give such a depth to the morning meadows. Ralph Waldo Emerson lasts morning giving Only so much of life do I know as I have lived. Ralph Waldo Emerson knows We talk of choosing our friends, but friends are self-elected. Ralph Waldo Emerson friends self friendship Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Ralph Waldo Emerson portions apology jewels The law of nature is alternation for evermore. Each electrical state superinduces the opposite. The soul environs itself with friends, that it may enter into a grander self-acquaintance or solitude; and it goes alone for a season, that it may exalt its conversation or society. Ralph Waldo Emerson self law opposites Let us even bid our dearest friends farewell, and defy them, saying, "Who are you? Unhand me: I will be dependent no more." Ah! seest thou not, O brother, that thus we part only to meet again on a higher platform, and only be more each other's, because we are more our own? Ralph Waldo Emerson platforms farewell brother Imagination is a very high sort of seeing. Ralph Waldo Emerson seeing imagination leadership When I read a good book, I wish my life were three thousand years long. Ralph Waldo Emerson long book years Nature wishes that woman should attract man, yet she often cunningly moulds into her face a little sarcasm, which seems to say, 'Yes, I am willing to attract, but to attract a little better kind of a man than any I yet behold Ralph Waldo Emerson sarcasm wish men I believe in Eternity. I can find Greece, Palestine, Italy, Spain, and the Islands, - the Genius and creative Principle of each and of all eras, in my own mind. Ralph Waldo Emerson creative islands believe 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 live-your-life motivational inspirational He then learns that in going down into the secrets of his own mind, he has descended into the secrets of all minds. Ralph Waldo Emerson learning secret mind All history is biography. Ralph Waldo Emerson biographies To accomplish excellence or anything outstanding, you must listen to that whisper which is heard by you alone. Ralph Waldo Emerson outstanding accomplish excellence
