Ralph Waldo Emerson Wisdom Quotes

A collection of inspirational sayings and quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882), American author, essayist, poet, and philosopher.

Earth laughs in flowers

What lies behind us
and what lies before us
Are tiny matters compared to
What lies within us.





Be very careful what you set your heart upon,
for you will surely have it.





Nothing can bring you peace,
but yourself.





There are many who are living far below their possibilities
because they are continually handing over their individualities to others.
Do you want to be a power in the world?
Then be yourself.
Be true to the highest within your soul
and then allow yourself to be governed
by no customs or conventionalities or arbitrary man-made rules
that are not founded on principle.






Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful;
for beauty is God's handwriting ~ a wayside sacrament.
Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower,
and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.





Once you make a decision,
the universe conspires to make it happen.





What you do speaks so loud
that I cannot hear what you say.





To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of 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 best in others;
to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.
This is to have succeeded.