Ralph Waldo Emerson

Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short, in all the management of human affairs.

A man is a god in ruins.

The good rain, like a bad preacher, does not know when to leave off.

If you believe in fate, believe in it, at least, for your good.

Painting was called silent poetry and poetry speaking painting.

There is a time when a man distinguishes the idea of felicity from the idea of wealth; it is the beginning of wisdom.

It is better to live rich than to die rich.

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.

I would be loath to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney.

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.

It is never too late to give up our prejudices.

Classic art was the art of necessity: modern romantic art bears the stamp of caprice and chance.

If in doubt, don’t. If still in doubt, do what’s right.

Commerce is of trivial import; love, faith, truth of character, the aspiration of man, these are sacred.

Look before you leap for as you sow, ye are like to reap.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.

Gross and obscure natures, however decorated, seem impure shambles; but character gives splendor to youth, and awe to wrinkled skin and gray hairs.

My life has been one great big joke, a dance that’s walked a song that’s spoke, I laugh so hard I almost choke when I think about myself.

What terrible questions we are learning to ask! The former men believed in magic, by which temples, cities, and men were swallowed up, and all trace of them gone. We are coming on the secret of a magic which sweeps out of men’s minds all vestige of theism and beliefs which they and their fathers held and were framed upon.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words.