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The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops - no, but the kind of man the country turns out.

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
Kind
Tests
Men
Size
Civilization
Cities
Turns
Census
True
Crops
Character
Test
Country
Ethics

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Light is the first of painters. There is no object so foul that intense light will not make it beautiful.
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There is also something excellent in every audience,--the capacity of virtue. They are ready to be beatified.
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The charm of fine manners is music and sculpture and picture to many who do not pretend to appreciation of these arts.
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Beauty brings its own fancy price, for all that a man hath will he give for his love.
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Let us stun and astonish the intruding rabble of men and books and institutions by a simple declaration of the divine fact. Bid the invaders take the shoes from off their feet, for God is here within.
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When all shoot at one mark, the gods join in the combat.
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The essence of friendship is entireness, a total magnanimity and trust.
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I DO not count the hours I spend In wandering by the sea The forest is my loyal friend, Like God it useth me.
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Those who have ruled human destinies, like planets, for thousands of years, were not handsome men.
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Out of sleeping a waking, Out of waking a sleep.
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We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them
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The action of the soul is oftener in that which is felt and left unsaid than in that which is said in any conversation. It broods over every society, and men unconsciously seek for it in each other.
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The difference between talent and genius is in the direction of the current: in genius, it is from within outward in talent from without inward.
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Human character evermore publishes itself. The most fugitive deed and word, the intimated purpose, express character.
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It is doubtless a vice to turn one's eyes inward too much, but I am my own comedy and tragedy.
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Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody.
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Conservatism is affluent and openhanded, but there is a cunning juggle in riches. I observe that they take somewhat for everythingthey give. I look bigger, but am less I have more clothes, but am nit so warm more armor, but less courage more books, but less wit.
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I am old, yet I look at wise men and see that I am very young. I look over those stars yonder, and into the myriads of the aspirant and ordered souls, and see I am a stranger and a youth and have yet my spurs to win. Too ridiculous are these airs of age.
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I wish the days to be as centuries, loaded, fragrant. Now we reckon them as bank-days, by some debt which is to be paid us, or which we are to pay, or some pleasure we are to taste.
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Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.
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