Ralph Waldo Emerson

No man thoroughly understands a truth until he has contended against it.

Coal is a portable climate. It carries the heat of the tropics to Labrador and the polar circle; and it is the means of transporting itself whithersoever it is wanted. Watt and Stephenson whispered in the ear of mankind their secret, that a half-ounce of coal will draw two tons a mile, and coal carries coal, by rail and by boat, to make Canada as warm as Calcutta, and with its comfort brings its industrial power.

Tis the good reader that makes the good book.

He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.

Men’s actions are too strong for them. Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action.

The true artist has the planet for his pedestal; the adventurer, after years of strife, has nothing broader than his shoes.

Traveling is a fool’s paradise. Our first journeys discover to us the indifference of places.

Good breeding, a union of kindness and independence.

It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?

Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.

And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond; that you do what you say you’re going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them.

Baseball has the great advantage over cricket of being sooner ended.

Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.

The English never draw a line without blurring it.

Nothing is to be preferred before justice.

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.

A vow is a snare for sin.

It’s powerful to have strong men but what does that strength mean?

Words are but the signs of ideas.

There’s a great joy in my giving. It’s thrilling. It’s exhilarating. It’s important to be a part of sharing. It is my love. It is my joy.

A country-bred man can always learn to get on with city people, but a town-bred fellah never gets the real hang of the country. You can put city polish on a man, but by golly, it seems you can’t ever rub it off him.