Quote

You cannot kindle a fire in any other heart until it is burning in your own.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Fire
Cannot
Heart
Kindle
Kindles
Burning

More quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image
So much of our time is spent in preparation, so much in routine, and so much in retrospect, that the amount of each person's genius is confined to a very few hours.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Let ideas establish their legitimate sway again in society, let life be fair and poetic, and the scholars will gladly be lovers, citizens, and philanthropists.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Our books approach very slowly the things we most wish to know.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Behind us, as we go, all things assume pleasing forms, as clouds do far off. Not only things familiar and stale, but even the tragic and terrible, are comely, as they take their place in the pictures of memory.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Though thou loved her as thyself, As a self of purer clay, Tho' her parting dims the day, Stealing grace from all alive, Heartily know, When half-gods go, The gods arrive.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
There is a time when a man distinguishes the idea of felicity from the idea of wealth it is the beginning of wisdom.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Away with this hurrah of masses, and let us have the considerate vote of single men.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Necessity does everything well.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
I fear the popular notion of success stands in direct opposition in all points to the real and wholesome success. One adores public opinion, the other, private opinion one, fame, the other, desert one, feats, the other, humility one, lucre, the other, love one, monopoly, and the other, hospitality of mind.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Men are conservatives when they are least vigorous, or when they are most luxurious. They are conservatives after dinner, or before taking their rest when they are sick or aged. In the morning, or when their intellect or their conscience has been aroused, when they hear music, or when they read poetry, they are radicals.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Every man passes his life in the search after friendship.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
We over-estimate the conscience of our friend. His goodness seems better than our goodness, his nature finer, his temptations less. Everything that is his,--his name, his form, his dress, books, and instruments,--fancy enhances. Our own thought sounds new and larger from his mouth.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
All sensible people are selfish, and nature is tugging at every contract to make the terms of it fair.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
The day is always his, who works in it with serenity and great aims.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
There is health in table talk and nursery play. We must wear old shoes and have aunts and cousins.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
History no longer shall be a dull book. It shall walk incarnate in every just and wise man. You shall not tell me by language and titles a catalogue of the volumes you have read. You shall make me feel what periods you have lived.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
The peace of the man who has forsworn the use of the bullet seems to me not quite peace, but a canting impotence.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image
No performance is worth loss of geniality. 'Tis a cruel price we pay for certain fancy goods called fine arts and philosophy.
Ralph Waldo Emerson