Ralph Waldo Emerson

The greatest homage we can pay truth is to use it.

The soul of God is poured into the world through the thoughts of men.

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

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.

Language is a city to the building of which every human being brought a stone.

Of all debts men are least willing to pay the taxes. What a satire is this on government! Everywhere they think they get their moneys worth, except for these.

All generalizations are false, including this one.

So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldnt find honest employment.

He presents me with what is always an acceptable gift who brings me news of a great thought before unknown. He enriches me without impoverishing himself.

If the single man plant himself indomitably on his instincts, and there abide, the huge world will come round to him.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.

To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise is one of the best precepts of long lasting.

And certainly, the mistakes that we male and female mortals make when we have our own way might fairly raise some wonder that we are so fond of it.

Just do what works for you, because there will always be someone who think diffenrently…

You always do what you want to do. This is true with every act. You may say that you had to do something, or that you were forced to, but actually, whatever you do, you do by choice. Only you have the power to choose for yourself.

There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you’ll be free if you truly wish to be.

Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.

Let your literary compositions be kept from the public eye for nine years.

It is only through labour and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage; that we move on to better things.

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

If it matters, it will hurt like knives or wrap and lift you in the most immeasurable joy. Or both. One thing is certain, you will feel intensely alive.