Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

Fate is nothing but the deeds committed in a prior state of existence.

The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.

People do not deserve to have good writings; they are so pleased with the bad.

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.

It the proof of high culture to say the greatest matters in the simplest way.

Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

Mysteries are due to secrecy.

To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.

The hottest love has the coldest end.

Like bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give.

Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.

Justice though moving with tardy pace, has seldom failed to overtake the wicked in their flight.

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

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.

Our necessities are few, but our wants are endless.

What do we live for; if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?

The physical world, including our bodies, is a response of the observer. We create our bodies as we create the experience of our world.

Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.