Share
×
Inspirational Quotes
Authors
Professions
Topics
Tags
Quote
What matters most is not what is behind us or before us, but what is within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Share
Change background
T
T
T
Change font
Original
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
Matters
Behinds
Behind
Within
Matter
More quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pride is handsome, economical pride eradicates so many vices, letting none subsist but itself, that it seems as if it were a great gain to exchange vanity for pride.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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
This knot of nature is so well tied that nobody was ever cunning enough to find the two ends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The youth, intoxicated with his admiration of a hero, fails to see, that it is only a projection of his own soul, which he admires.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
When I was praised I lost my time, for instantly I turned around to look at the work I had thought slightly of, and that day I made nothing new.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is a man born for but to be a reformer, a remaker of what has been made, a denouncer of lies, a restorer of truth and good?
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Knowledge is the antidote to fear
Ralph Waldo Emerson
But we need not fear that we can lose any thing by the progress of the soul. The soul may be trusted to the end.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The customer is the immediate jewel of our souls. Him we flatter, him we feast, compliment, vote for, and will not contradict.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is one light which beams out of a thousand stars. It is one soul which animates all men.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Why needs a man be rich? Why must he have horses, fine garments, handsome apartments, access to public houses, and places of amusement? Only for want of thought.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nature is a frugal mother, and never gives without measure. When she has work to do, she qualifies men for that and sends them equipped.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Among the multitude of scholars and authors, we feel no hallowing presence we are sensible of a knack and skill rather than of inspiration they have a light, and know not whence it comes, and call it their own their talent is some exaggerated faculty, some overgrown member, so that their strength is a disease.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I do not speak with any fondness but the language of coolest history, when I say that Boston commands attention as the town whichwas appointed in the destiny of nations to lead the civilization of North America.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
A healthy soul stands united with the Just and the True, as the magnet arranges itself with the pole, so that he stands to all beholders like a transparent object betwixt them and the sun, and whoso journeys towards the sun, journeys towards that person. He is thus the medium of the highest influence to all who are not on the same level.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The inquiry leads us to that source, at once the essence of genius, of virtue, and of life, which we call Spontaneity or Instinct.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
In a world of infinite choice people are struggling to figure out what to do.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
We do not yet trust the unknown power of thoughts.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
A painter told me that nobody could draw a tree without in some sort becoming a tree.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
One can never truly savor success until first tasting adversity.
Ralph Waldo Emerson