Quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Never lose an opportunity for seeing something beautiful for beauty is God s handwriting.

The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself.

We are wiser than we know.

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.

If eyes were made for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being.

In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth.

Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.

Shall I tell you the secret of the true scholar? It is this: every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him.

That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our power to do so is increased.

Teach that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake.

Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.

Better be a nettle in the side of your friend than his echo.