Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem to be confidences or sides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear; the profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader; the profound thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until it is discovered by an equal mind and heart.

Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.

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

Give me health and a day, and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.

Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being?

Great geniuses have the shortest biographies.

Nothing is more common than mutual dislike, where mutual approbation is particularly expected.

The intuitive recognition of the instant, thus reality… is the highest act of wisdom.

Painting was called silent poetry and poetry speaking painting.

It were better to be of no church, than to be bitter for any.

What a wee little part of a person’s life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those of other things, are his history. These are his life, and they are not written. Everyday would make a whole book of 80,000 words – 365 books a year. Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man – the biography of the man himself cannot be written.

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.

Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.

It is a profitable Wisdom to know when we have done enough: Much time and Pains are spared, in not flattering our selves against Probabilities.

The key to the age may be this, or that, or the other, as the young orators describe; the key to all ages is – Imbecility; imbecility in the vast majority of men, at all times, and, even in heroes, in all but certain eminent moments; victims of gravity, custom, and fear.

Tear thyself from delay.

Beautiful credit! The foundation of modern society. Who shall say that this is not the golden age of mutual trust, of unlimited reliance upon human promises? That is a peculiar condition of society which enables a whole nation to instantly recognize point and meaning in the familiar newspaper anecdote, which puts into the mouth of a distinguished speculator in lands and mines this remark: – I wasn’t worth a cent two years ago, and now I owe two millions of dollars.

He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.

Ordinary people seem not to realize that those who really apply themselves in the right way to philosophy are directly and of their own accord preparing themselves for dying and death.