Ralph Waldo Emerson

The key to every man is his thought. He can only be reformed by showing him a new idea which commands his own.

Cities give us collision. ‘Tis said, London and New York take the nonsense out of a man.

The death of a dear friend, wife, brother, lover, which seemed nothing but privation, somewhat later assumes the aspect of a guide or genius; for it commonly operates revolutions in our way of life, terminates an epoch of infancy or of youth which was waiting to be closed, breaks up a wonted occupation, or a household, or style of living, and allows the formation of new ones more friendly to the growth of character.

Repose and cheerfulness are the badge of the gentleman – repose in energy.

The true poem is the poet’s mind.

It was high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, ‘always do what you are afraid to do.’

The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a fig-leaf.

For too long I have silenced my heart, that now, when I give it the opportunity to speak, it no longer remembers its voice. Locked away, it forgot what it’s like to be free; to roam. Imprisoned within loneliness, I fear Stockholm syndrome has developed.

We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they’re gone.

One cause, which is not always observed, of the insufficiency of riches, is that they very seldom make their owner rich.

Pity the man who has a character to support – it is worse than a large family – he is silent poor indeed.

Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions are all based upon that large defect in your race – the individual’s distrust of his neighbor, and his desire, for safety’s or comfort’s sake, to stand well in his neighbor’s eye. These institutions will always remain, and always flourish, and always oppress you, affront you, and degrade you, because you will always be and remain slaves of minorities. There was never a country where the majority of the people were in their secret hearts loyal to any of these institutions.

I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.

It always seems impossible until its done.

What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

A big leather-bound volume makes an ideal razor strap. A thin book is useful to stick under a table with a broken caster to steady it. A large, flat atlas can be used to cover a window with a broken pane. And a thick, old-fashioned heavy book with a clasp is the finest thing in the world to throw at a noisy cat.

There is nothing capricious in nature and the implanting of a desire indicates that its gratification is in the constitution of the creature that feel it.

We hate the kindness which we understand.

You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

There is no such thing as the Queen’s English. The property has gone into the hands of a joint stock company and we own the bulk of the shares!