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 The secret of success in society is a certain heartiness and sympathy. Ralph Waldo Emerson secret-to-success certain secret The city is recruited from the country. Ralph Waldo Emerson cities country The essence of all jokes, of all comedy, seems to be an honest or well intended halfness; a non performance of that which is pretended to be performed, at the same time that one is giving loud pledges of performance. The balking of the intellect, is comedy and it announces itself in the pleasant spasms we call laughter. Ralph Waldo Emerson laughter honesty time A low self-love in the parent desires that his child should repeat his character and fortune. Ralph Waldo Emerson love character children Harmony of aim, not identity of conclusion, is the secret of sympathetic life. Ralph Waldo Emerson identity secret life We are reformers in the spring and summer, but in autumn we stand by the old. Reformers in the morning, and conservers at night. Ralph Waldo Emerson summer spring morning Too busy with the crowded hour to fear to live or die. Ralph Waldo Emerson change fear death The effects of opposition are wonderful. There are men who rise refreshed on hearing of a threat, men to whom a crisis, which intimidates and paralyzes the majority, comes as graceful and beloved as a bride! Ralph Waldo Emerson hearing majority men If I cannot brag of knowing something, then I brag of not knowing it; at any rate, brag. Ralph Waldo Emerson bragging knowing science Every man believes that he has greater possibilities. Ralph Waldo Emerson men life believe Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. Ralph Waldo Emerson wit-and-humor tongue levels The condition which high friendship demands is ability to do without it. Ralph Waldo Emerson ability demand friendship In dealing with the State, we ought to remember that its institutions are not aboriginal, though they existed before we were born; that they are not superior to the citizen; that every one of them was once the act of a single man; every law and usage was a man's expedient to meet a particular case; that they all are imitable, all alterable; we may make as good; we may make better. Ralph Waldo Emerson liberty law men Everything in nature goes by law, and not by luck. Ralph Waldo Emerson nature law science The dice of God are always loaded. Ralph Waldo Emerson dice luck god Shallow men believe in luck, believe in circumstances: it was somebody's name, or he happened to be there at right time, or it was so then, and another day it would have been otherwise. Strong men believe in cause and effect. Ralph Waldo Emerson strength strong believe All stealing is comparative. If you come to absolutes, pray who does not steal. Ralph Waldo Emerson dishonesty doe lying Want is a growing giant whom the coat of have was never large enough to cover. Ralph Waldo Emerson growing greed giants Good bye, proud world! I'm going home; Thou art not my friend, and I'm not thine Ralph Waldo Emerson inspirational friendship death The believing we do something when we do nothing is the first illusion of tobacco. Ralph Waldo Emerson smoking believe firsts
