Top 10 Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who became a central figure in the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He is best known for his essays, such as "Self-Reliance," "The Over-Soul," and "Nature," which explore themes of individualism, self-reliance, and the interconnectedness of all life. Emerson's writings emphasized the importance of intuition, nonconformity, and the spiritual potential of every person. He was also a prominent speaker and advocate for social reform, including abolitionism. Emerson's work continues to influence literature, philosophy, and spirituality, inspiring generations with his ideas on the inherent goodness of humanity and the power of self-discovery.

Top 10 Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson

1. "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. "For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. "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

4. "Always do what you are afraid to do."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

5. "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

8. "Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

9. "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

10. "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson