Ralph Waldo Emerson

The world is upheld by the veracity of good men: they make the earth wholesome. They who lived with them found life glad and nutritious. Life is sweet and tolerable only in our belief in such society.

Culture is one thing and varnish is another.

Better be a nettle in the side of your friend than his echo.

We are as much informed of a writer’s genius by what he selects as by what he originates.

A man’s library is a sort of harem.

Art is a jealous mistress; and if a man have a genius for painting, poetry, music, architecture or philosophy, he makes a bad husband and an ill provider.

We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good will; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. I will not call you children, — for parents sometimes chide their children too severely; nor brothers only, — for brothers differ. The friendship between me and you I will not compare to a chain; for that the rains might rust, or the falling tree might break. We are the same as if one man’s body were to be divided into two parts, we are all one flesh and blood.

The profoundest thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until an equal mind and heart finds and publishes it.

A Man in Business must put up many Affronts, if he loves his own Quiet.

What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?

Accept your genius and say what you think.

I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.

Nothing is more costly, nothing is more sterile, than vengeance.

See only that thou work and thou canst not escape the reward.

Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.

There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.

Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned.

If a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.

It is very natural for young men to be vehement, acrimonious and severe. For as they seldom comprehend at once all the consequences of a position, or perceive the difficulties by which cooler and more experienced reasoners are restrained from confidence, they form their conclusions with great precipitance. Seeing nothing that can darken or embarrass the question, they expect to find their own opinion universally prevalent, and are inclined to impute uncertainty and hesitation to want of honesty, rather than of knowledge.

He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.

The mob is man voluntarily descending to the nature of the beast. Its fit hour of activity is night. Its actions are insane like its whole constitution. It persecutes a principle; it would whip a right; it would tar and feather justice, by inflicting fire and outrage upon the houses and persons of those who have these. It resembles the prank of boys, who run with fire-engines to put out the ruddy aurora streaming to the stars.