Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nothing is more disgusting than the crowing about liberty by slaves, as most men are, and the flippant mistaking for freedom of some paper preamble like a Declaration of Independence, or the statute right to vote, by those who have never dared to think or to act.

For what avail the plough or sail, Or land or life, if freedom fail?

Nature is an endless combination and repetition of a very few laws. She hums the old well-known air through innumerable variations.

Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices.

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

The artists must be sacrificed to their art. Like the bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give.

Friends are true Twins in Soul; they Sympathize in every thing, and have the Love and Aversion. One is not happy without the other, nor can either of them be miserable alone. As if they could change Bodies, they take their turns in Pain as well as in Pleasure; relieving one another in their most adverse Conditions.What one enjoys, the other cannot Want. Like the Primitive Christians, they have all things in common, and no Property but in one another.

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.

There be three things which make a nation great and prosperous: a fertile soil, busy workshops, easy conveyance for men and goods from place to place.

As the births of living creatures, at first, are ill-shapen: so are all Innovations, which are the births of time.

If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us.

This merriment of parsons is mighty offensive.

An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.

In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath.

The world is upheld by the veracity of good men: they make the earth wholesome. They who lived with them found life glad and nutritious. Life is sweet and tolerable only in our belief in such society.

He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar; and many fold in their passage; while they lie waiting for the gale.

Love truth, but pardon error.

If all the economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.

Wear none of thine own Chains; but keep free, whilst thou art free.

I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.

A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.