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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.

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
Vices
Tragedy
Comedy
Turn
Eyes
Turns
Doubtless
Eye
Inward
Much
Vice

More quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

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The eye is the best of artists.
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When I read a good book, I wish my life were three thousand years long.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Works of the intellect are great only by comparison with each other.
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There is nothing but is related to us, nothing that does not interest us,--kingdom, college, tree, horse, or iron show,--the rootsof all things are in man.
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There is genius as well in virtue as in intellect. 'Tis the doctrine of faith over works.
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Knowledge is the antidote to fear. [especially as fear often stands for false evidence appearing real!]
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We come to our own and would make friends with matter, which the ambitious chatter of the schools would persuade us to despise. We can never part with it the mind loves its old home: as water to our thirst, so is rock, the ground, to our eyes, and hands, and feet. It is firm water: it is cold flame: what health, what affinity!
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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But in every constitution some large degree of animal vigor is necessary as material foundation for the higher qualities of the art.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A good symbol is the best argument, and is a missionary to persuade thousands.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Without looking, then, to those extraordinary social influences which are now acting in precisely this direction, but only at whatis inevitably doing around us, I think we must regard the land as a commanding and increasing power on the citizen, the sanative and Americanizing influence, which promises to disclose new virtues for ages to come.
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Yet some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise, and wherever the vein of thought reaches down into the profound, there is no danger from vanity. Solemn friends will warn them of the danger of the head's being turned by the flourish of trumpets, but they can afford to smile.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Nature will not let us fret and fume. She does not like our benevolence or our learning much better than she likes our frauds andwars. When we come out of the caucus, or the bank, or the abolition-convention, or the temperance-meeting, or the transcendental club, into the fields and woods, she says to us, so hot? my little Sir.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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He only is a well-made man who has a good determination.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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And in cases where profound conviction has been wrought, the eloquent man is he who is no beautiful speaker, but who is inwardly drunk with a certain belief. It agitates and tears him, and perhaps almost bereaves him of the power of articulation.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I have heard that stiff people lose something of their awkwardness under high ceilings, and in spacious halls. I think, sculptureand painting have an effect to teach us manners, and abolish hurry.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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After you have pumped your brains for thoughts and verses, there is a better poetry hinted in whistling a tune on your walk.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten even so, they have made me.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Discontent is want of self-reliance it is infirmity of will.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Talent is commonly developed at the expense of character.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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The chief value of the new fact is to enhance the great and constant fact of life.
Ralph Waldo Emerson