Ralph Waldo Emerson

Republics abound in young civilians who believe that the laws make the city, that grave modifications of the policy and modes of living and employments of the population, that commerce, education and religion may be voted in or out; and that any measure, though it were absurd, may be imposed on a people if only you can get sufficient voices to make it a law. But the wise know that foolish legislation is a rope of sand which perishes in the twisting; that the State must follow and not lead the character and progress of the citizen; that the form of government which prevails is the expression of what cultivation exists in the population which permits it. The law is only a memorandum.

The secret in education lies in respecting the student.

Never read any book that is not a year old.

Every great achievement is the victory of a flaming heart.

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.

Every artist was first an amateur.

Those who attain to any excellence commonly spend life in some single pursuit, for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.

Not he is great who can alter matter, but he who can alter my state of mind.

Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.

That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he it is that has browsed off all the woods on Walden shore, that Trojan horse, with a thousand men in his belly, introduced by mercenary Greeks! Where is the country’s champion, the Moore of Moore Hall, to meet him at the Deep Cut and thrust an avenging lance between the ribs of the bloated pest?

The only failure a man ought to fear is failure in cleaving to the purpose he sees to be best.

Everything’s fine today, that is our illusion.

I was born upon thy bank, river, my blood flows in thy stream, and thou meanderest forever. At the bottom of my dream.

The need for change bulldozed road down the center of my mind.

Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others… This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.

Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.

If thou art clean and warm, it is sufficient; for more doth but rob the Poor, and please the Wanton.

Don’t order any black things. Rejoice in his memory; and be radiant: leave grief to the children. Wear violet and purple. Be patient with the poor people who will snivel: they don’t know; and they think they will live for ever, which makes death a division instead of a bond.

Bravery has no place where it can avail nothing.

A minute of thought is greater than an hour of talk.

There is only one duty, only one safe course, and that is to try to be right.