Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

We talk of choosing our friends, but friends are self-elected. Reverence is a great part of it.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Some thoughts always find us young, and keep us so.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are easily tired of a popular modish tune, but never of the voice of the wind in the woods.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature is upheld by antagonism. Passions, resistance, danger, are educators. We acquire the strength we have overcome.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Human life is made up of the two elements, power and form, and the proportion must be invariably kept, if we would have it sweet and sound.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Forget the past. Be not the slave of your own past.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Knowledge is the knowing that we can not know.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

What is done for effect, is seen to be done for effect; what is done for love, is felt to be done for love.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

All mankind love a lover.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are natural believers.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Never assume. Be genuine.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let others grumble that they see no fairies nor muses, I rejoice that my eyes see the erect eternal world…without blur or halo.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Such should be the outward biography of a man in time, a putting off of dead circumstance day by day, as he renews his raiment day by day.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

I say to the universe, Mighty One! thou art not my mother. Return to chaos if thou wilt. I shall still exist. I live.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Always do what you are afraid to do.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

You must treat the days respectfully, you must be a day yourself.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

A certain awkwardness usually marks our use of borrowed thoughts. They are too conspicuous, not being well placed.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are better pleasures than to be first.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

‘Tis the best use of fate to teach a fatal courage.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson