Ralph Waldo Emerson

As soon as there is life there is danger.

Some thoughts always find us young, and keep us so. Such a thought is the love of the universal and eternal beauty.

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit.

Every wall is a door.

The wise know that foolish legislation is a rope of sand, which perishes in the twisting.

Every man passes his life in the search after friendship.

The people are to be taken in small doses.

The roses under my window make no reference to former roses or better ones; they are what they are; they exist with God today. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.

Injustice in the end produces independence.

The words which express our faith and piety are not definite; yet they are significant and fragrant like frankincense to superior natures.

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

I do not mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy.

Fidelity is the sister of justice.

When you’re drowning, you don’t say ‘I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,’ you just scream.

What is the matter with the poor is poverty; what is the matter with the rich is uselessness.

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

All censorships exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently, the first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.

Because they did not see merit where they should have seen it, people, to express their regret, will go and leave a lot of money to the very people who will be the first to throw stones at the next person who has anything to say and finds a difficulty in getting a hearing.

Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.