Ralph Waldo Emerson: Essays and Lectures. Book Two (2).

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

Why read it? Emerson’s unit of thought is the epigrammatic sentence. Emerson writes a poetic prose. Emerson’s beliefs—that each man shares in the Over-Soul, or God, that man possesses, within himself, the means to all knowledge—expressed in his memorable sentences, are of central importance in the history of American culture. The only trouble is most of his ideas are half-truths.

Ideas:

“Men do not believe in the power of education.” P. 599. ………. “…the scholar was not raised by the sacred thoughts amongst which he dwelt, but used them to selfish ends.” P. 600. ………. “Knowledge gave the scholar certain powers of expression, the power of speech, the power of poetry, of literary art, but it did not bring him to peace or to beneficence.” P. 601. ………. “…that is ever the difference between the wise and the unwise: the latter wonders at what is unusual, the wise man wonders at the usual.” P. 609. ………. “I cannot tell what I would know; but I have observed there are persons who in their character and actions, answer questions which I have not skill to put.” ………. “Great men…clear our eyes from egotism, and enable us to see other people and their works.” P. 626. ………. “…all are teachers and pupils in turn.” P. 629. ………. “The heroes of the hour are relatively great ... or they are such, in whom, at the moment of success, a quality is ripe which is then in request.” P. 630. ………. “…great men exist that there may be greater men.” P. 632.

To be continued.