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Books are the best of things, well used abused, among the worst...They are for nothing but to inspire.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Ralph Waldo Emerson
Age: 78 †
Born: 1803
Born: May 25
Died: 1882
Died: April 27
Biographer
Diarist
Essayist
Philosopher
Poet
Writer
Boston
Massachusetts
R. W. Emerson
Waldo Emerson
Things
Worst
Books
Used
Best
Wells
Book
Abused
Well
Inspire
Nothing
Among

More quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

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An eye can threaten like a loaded and levelled gun, or it can insult like hissing or kicking or, in its altered mood, by beams of kindness, it can make the heart dance for joy. ... One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye it transcends speech it is the bodily symbol of identity.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A good deal of our politics is physiological.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Man is the broken giant, and in all his weakness both his body and his mind are invigorated by habits of conversation with nature.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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It is time to be old To take in sail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Nor knowest thou what argument Thy life to thy neighbor's creed has lent. All are needed by each one Nothing is fair or good alone.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Men are conservatives when they are least vigorous or when they are most luxurious-they are conservatives after dinner.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Solitude is naught and society is naught. Alternate them and the good of each is seen.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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In England every man you meet is some man's son in America, he may be some man's father.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Each of us sees in others what we carry in our own hearts.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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We have a great deal more kindness than is ever spoken. (Despite) all the selfishness that chills like east winds the world, the whole human family is bathed with an element of love like a fine ether... The effect of the indulgence of this human affection is a certain cordial exhilaration.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Everything in nature goes by law, and not by luck.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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The world-spirit is a good swimmer, and storms and waves can not drown him. He snaps his fingers at laws and so, throughout history, heaven seems to affect low and poor means. Through the years and the centuries, through evil agents, through toys and atoms, a great and beneficent tendency irresistibly streams.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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In strict science, all persons underlie the same condition of an infinite remoteness. Shall we fear to cool our love by mining forthe metaphysical foundation of this elysian temple? Shall I not be as real as the things I see? If I am, I shall not fear to know them for what they are.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Getting old is a fascination thing. The older you get, the older you want to get.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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There is properly no history, only biography.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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It is easy to carp at colleges, and the college, if he will wait for it, will have its own turn. Genius exists there also, but will not answer a call of a committee of the House of Commons. It is rare, precious, eccentric, and darkling.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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No man can have society upon his own terms.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A sublime hope cheers ever the faithful heart, that elsewhere, in other regions of the universal powers, souls are now acting, enduring and daring, which can love us, and which we can love.
Ralph Waldo Emerson