Ralph Waldo Emerson

By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote. In fact it is as difficult to appropriate the thoughts of others as it is to invent.

The world is his who has money to go over it.

We are a puny and fickle folk. Avarice, hesitation, and following are our diseases.

A character is like an acrostic or Alexandrian stanza; read it forward, backward, or across, it still spells the same thing.

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

Many might go to Heaven with half the labor they go to hell.

Important encounters are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other.

The future is purchased by the present.

Statistics show that of those who contract the habit of eating, very few survive.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

What right have I to grieve, who have not ceased to wonder?

The third component of the Law of Dharma is service to humanity–to serve your fellow human beings and to ask yourself the questions,How can I help? How can I help all those that I come into contact with? When you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma.

Justice is my being allowed to do whatever I like. Injustice is whatever prevents my doing so.

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

All men are prepared to accomplish the incredible if their ideals are threatened.

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.

If pleasure was not followed by pain, who would forbear it?

Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God.

Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.

For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.

I will be conquered; I will not capitulate.