Humanities › Literature Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes A Collection of Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes Share Flipboard Email Print Stock Montage / Contributor/ Archive Photos/ Getty Images Literature Quotations Funny Quotes Love Quotes Great Lines from Movies and Television Quotations For Holidays Best Sellers Classic Literature Plays & Drama Poetry Shakespeare Short Stories Children's Books By Simran Khurana Education Expert M.B.A, Human Resource Development and Management, Narsee Monjee Institution of Management Studies B.S., University of Mumbai, Commerce, Accounting, and Finance Simran Khurana is the Editor-in-Chief for ReachIvy, and a teacher and freelance writer and editor, who uses quotations in her pedagogy. our editorial process Simran Khurana Updated June 20, 2014 Character ArtArt is the path of the creator to his work. ChallengeAs long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way. BeliefBelief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief in denying them. CharacterCharacter is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well to think. ArtClassic art was the art of necessity: modern romantic art bears the stamp of caprice and chance. CommitmentConcentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short in all management of human affairs. AttitudeCoolness and absence of heat and haste indicate fine qualities. AdventureDo not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. CharacterEach man takes care that his neighbor shall not cheat him. But a day comes when he begins to care that he does not cheat his neighbor. Then all goes well - he has changed his market-cart into a chariot of the sun. ConfidenceEvery man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other people. AmbitionHitch your wagon to a star. CharacterIf you would lift me up you must be on higher ground. CharacterIf you would not be known to do anything, never do it. ChallengeIt was high counsel that I once heard given to a young person: Always do what you are afraid to do. CharacterJudge of your natural character by what you do in your dreams. CharacterMake the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. CharacterNo change of circumstances can repair a defect of character. AmbitionNo one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself. CalmnessNothing can bring you peace but yourself; nothing, but the triumph of principles. CalmnessPeace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding. BeliefSelf-trust is the essence of heroism. ConfidenceSelf-trust is the first secret of success. BirthdaySo much of our time is preparation, so much is routine, and so much retrospect, that the path of each man's genius contracts itself to a very few hours. AdventureThe invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common. ArtThe sower may mistake and sow his peas crookedly; the peas make no mistake, but come up and show his line. AttitudeThis time like all times is a very good one if we but know what to do with it AttitudeTo be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. BeliefTo believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in our private heart is for all men - that is genius. AttitudeTo different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven. AmbitionWe aim above the mark to hit the mark. AttitudeWhat lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. CharacterWhat you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say. ActionWhat you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say CommunicationWho you are is speaking so loudly that I can't hear what you're saying. CharacterWho you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying. AmbitionWithout ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. CommitmentYou cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. AttitudeYour own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Khurana, Simran. "Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/ralph-waldo-emerson-quotes-2833453. Khurana, Simran. (2020, August 26). Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/ralph-waldo-emerson-quotes-2833453 Khurana, Simran. "Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/ralph-waldo-emerson-quotes-2833453 (accessed January 25, 2021). copy citation