Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is always safety in valor.

There is always safety in valor.

If man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, read more

If man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles, or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad, hard-beaten road to his house, tho it be in the woods.

Cunning is strength withheld.

Cunning is strength withheld.

Spartans, stoics, heroes, saints and gods use short and positive speech.

Spartans, stoics, heroes, saints and gods use short and positive speech.

What point of morals, of manners, of economy, of philosophy, of
religion, of taste, of the conduct of life, read more

What point of morals, of manners, of economy, of philosophy, of
religion, of taste, of the conduct of life, has he not settled?
What mystery has he not signified his knowledge of? What office,
or function, or district of man's work, has he not remembered?
What king has he not taught state, as Talma taught Napoleon?
What maiden has not found him finer than her delicacy? What
lover has he not outloved? What sage has he not outseen? What
gentleman has he not instructed in the rudeness of his behavior?