Essays and Lectures: Ralph Waldo Emerson

1803-1882. New York: Literary Classics of the United States. 1983.

10-second review: Emerson’s message was in the single sentence, sometimes cryptic and always thought-provoking.

Sample Quotes: “Whatever limits us we call fate.” p. 952............ “But every jet of chaos which threatens to exterminate us is convertible by intellect into wholesome force.” p. 958........... “A man must thank his defects and stand in some terror of his talents.” p. 960........... “Person makes event, and event person.” p. 962........... “Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short, in all management of human affairs.” p. 982........... “A man who has that presence of mind which can bring to him on the instant all he knows, is worth for action a dozen men who know as much, but can only bring it to light slowly.” p. 983........... “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.” p. 984........... “…for wise men are not wise at all hours….” p. 992........... “A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.” p. 1019........... “But books are good only as far as a boy is ready for them.” p. 1020.