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 Genius has infused itself into nature. It indicates itself by a small excess of good, a small balance in brute facts always favorable to the side of reason. Ralph Waldo Emerson balance nature sides Nature has her own best mode of doing each thing, and she has somewhere told it plainly, if we will keep our eyes and ears open. If not, she will not be slow in undeceiving us, when we prefer our own way to hers. Ralph Waldo Emerson nature eye pride There is no man of Nature's worth Ralph Waldo Emerson circles nature men Intellect is a fire; rash and pitiless it melts this wonderful bone-house which is called man. Genius even, as it is the greatestgood, is the greatest harm. Ralph Waldo Emerson fire house men When the gods come among men, they are not known. Ralph Waldo Emerson known genius men What is it men love in Genius, but its infinite hope, which degrades all it has done? Genius counts all its miracles poor and short. Its own idea it never executed. Ralph Waldo Emerson miracle men ideas Great geniuses have the shortest biographies. Their cousins can tell you nothing about them. They lived in their writings, and sotheir house and street life was trivial and commonplace. If you would know their tastes and complexions, the most admiring of their readers most resembles them. Ralph Waldo Emerson cousin house writing And what is Genius but finer love, a love impersonal, a love of the flower and perfection of things, and a desire to draw a new picture or copy of the same? It looks to the cause and life: it proceeds from within outward, whilst Talent goes from without inward. Ralph Waldo Emerson flower perfection inspirational Genius is its own end. Ralph Waldo Emerson genius ends But genius is religious. It is a larger imbibing of the common heart. Ralph Waldo Emerson imbibing religious heart Talent may frolic and juggle; genius realizes and adds. Ralph Waldo Emerson genius may add Genius is the naturalist or geographer of the supersensible regions, and draws their map; and, by acquainting us with new fields of activity, cools our affection for the old. These are at once accepted as the reality, of which the world we have conversed with is the show. Ralph Waldo Emerson genius reality world Where the heart is, there the muses, there the gods sojourn, and not in any geography of fame. Massachusetts, Connecticut River, and Boston Bay, you think paltry places, and the ear loves names of foreign and classic topography. But here we are; and, if we tarry a little, we may come to learn that here is best. See to it, only, that thyself is here;--and art and nature, hope and fate, friends, angels, and the Supreme Being, shall not absent from the chamber where thou sittest. Ralph Waldo Emerson angel inspirational art The soul answers never by words, but by the thing itself that is inquired after. Ralph Waldo Emerson soul answers inspirational Therefore all just persons are satisfied with their own praise. They refuse to explain themselves, and are content that new actions should do them that office. They believe that we communicate without speech, and above speech, and that no right action of ours is quite unaffecting to our friends, at whatever distance; for the influence of action is not to be measured by miles. Ralph Waldo Emerson distance office believe Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action. What they have done commits and enforces them to do the same again. The first act, which was to be an experiment, becomes a sacrament. Ralph Waldo Emerson done men firsts The measure of action is the sentiment from which it proceeds. The greatest action may easily be one of the most private circumstance. Ralph Waldo Emerson circumstances action may The world leaves no track in space, and the greatest action of man no mark in the vast idea. Ralph Waldo Emerson space men ideas It is the dissenter, the theorist, the aspirant, who is quitting this ancient domain to embark on seas of adventure, who engages our interest. Omitting then for the present all notice of the stationary class, we shall find that the movement party divides itself into two classes, the actors, and the students. Ralph Waldo Emerson party sea adventure We do not want actions, but men; not a chemical drop of water, but rain; the spirit that sheds and showers actions, countless, endless actions. Ralph Waldo Emerson rain water men
