Ralph Waldo Emerson

Slavery is an institution for converting men into monkeys.

Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.

There is a certain satisfaction in coming down to the lowest ground of politics, for we get rid of cant and hypocrisy.

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

There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.

Tis the good reader that makes the good book.

When any calamity has been suffered the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped.

Few of us have vitality enough to make any of our instincts imperious.

The less a man thinks or knows about his virtues, the better we like him.

Self-realization is effortless. What you are trying to find is what you already are.

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

Do the thing we fear, and the death of fear is certain.

You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.

Suspicion amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they never fly by twilight.

We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire from the world like a satisfied guest.

Only that day dawns to which we are awake.

I must walk toward Oregon, and not toward Europe. And that way the nation is moving, and I may say that mankind progress from east to west. We go eastward to realize history and study the works of art and literature, retracing the steps of the race; we go westward as into the future, with a spirit of enterprise and adventure.

We perceive and are affected by changes too subtle to be described.

Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.

Fine manners need the support of fine manners in others.

Knowledge is more than equivalent to force.