Ralph Waldo Emerson

We do not count a man’s years until he has nothing else to count.

A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us.

The value of a principle is the number of things it will explain; and there is no good theory of disease which does not at once suggest a cure.

Great hearts steadily send forth the secret forces that incessantly draw great events.

In conversation the game is, to say something new with old words. And you shall observe a man of the people picking his way along, step by step, using every time an old boulder, yet never setting his foot on an old place.

Skepticism is unbelief in cause and effect.

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.

The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat, or takes in its milk, on the principle that it is cheaper to do this than to keep a cow. So it is, but the milk is more likely to be watered.

A man’s action is only a picture book of his creed.

Haste makes Work which Caution prevents.

The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity.

The world is his who has money to go over it.

Nothing is real.

Then spare the rod and spoil the child.

Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.

I believe in the limitlessness of humans. We’re capable of incredible things. At times that realization is frightening.

If you can’t forgive and forget, pick one.

I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board.

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.

The soul’s emphasis is always right.

The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.