62 Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes About Life & The Power of Our Minds
These Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes are all powerful and thought provoking!
Who was Ralph Waldo Emerson?
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American poet, philosopher and essayist who is considered one of the most influential figures in the world of Transcendentalism.
He grew up in a Unitarian family that enjoyed literature, and he read everything from the Greek classics to Shakespeare’s plays. His grandfather instilled in him an appreciation for nature at an early age. After graduating from Harvard in 1821, Emerson wanted to enter the ministry and become a preacher but ultimately decided he would be more effective as a writer.
What were Ralph Waldo Emerson’s beliefs?
Emerson wrote on many topics, including nature, which was considered an important work of transcendentalism, or the belief that reality is spiritual rather than material. He was interested in the power of the mind and in strength of character, which led to his most famous essay “Self-Reliance.”
Memorable Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Due to his deep thoughts on self reliance, the power of the mind and success Emerson left an enormous legacy in many inspiring quotes and sayings. For example, one of Emerson’s many quotes deserves to be remembered and repeated:
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Why do his sayings still inspire us today?
Most of Emerson’s quotes revolve around success and self improvement. As a result, his words are very inspiring and motivative because they address the main aspirations that people have in their lives.
Even though these aspirations change over time, most of them remain untouched throughout history, which is why Emerson’s sayings should be especially applicable to our modern society today.
Inspirational Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A man is what he thinks about all day long. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every wall is a door. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hitch your wagon to a star. Ralph Waldo Emerson
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character. Ralph Waldo Emerson
What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. Ralph Waldo Emerson
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson
What you are comes to you. Ralph Waldo Emerson
With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The first wealth is health. Ralph Waldo Emerson
We acquire the strength we have overcome. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson
All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson
All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. Ralph Waldo Emerson
For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. Ralph Waldo Emerson
What we seek we shall find; what we flee from flees from us. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Science does not know its debt to imagination. Ralph Waldo Emerson
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes on Self Reliance
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. Ralph Waldo Emerson
We gain the strength of the temptation we resist. Ralph Waldo Emerson
As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A great man is always willing to be little. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nobody can bring you peace but yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson
He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes on Success
Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. All is riddle, and the key to a riddle is another riddle. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Always do what you are afraid to do. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is not length of life, but depth of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson
We aim above the mark to hit the mark. Ralph Waldo Emerson
An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The reward of a thing well done is having done it. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every artist was first an amateur. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Little minds have little worries, big minds have no time for worries. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Genius always finds itself a century too early. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes on Friendship
The only way to have a friend is to be one. Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A man’s growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends. Ralph Waldo Emerson
A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes on Nature
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The years teach much which the days never know. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson
If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare. Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered. Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you want to read even more insightful and inspriing quotes from famous thought leaders, be sure to check out:
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- 30 Neville Goddard Quotes & Affirmations
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- Maya Angelou Quotes & Valuable Life Lessons
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