Society always consists, in greatest part, of young and foolish persons. The old, who have seen through the hypocrisy of the courts and statesmen, die, and leave no wisdom to their sons. They believe their own newspaper, as their fathers did at their age.
Ralph Waldo EmersonThough we love goodness and not stealing, yet also we love freedom and not preaching.
Ralph Waldo EmersonWhenever a true theory appears, it will be its own evidence. Its test is, that it will explain all phenomena.
Ralph Waldo EmersonGo, speed the stars of Thought On to their shining goals; - The sower scatters broad his seed, The wheat thou strew'st be souls.
Ralph Waldo EmersonWithout looking, then, to those extraordinary social influences which are now acting in precisely this direction, but only at whatis inevitably doing around us, I think we must regard the land as a commanding and increasing power on the citizen, the sanative and Americanizing influence, which promises to disclose new virtues for ages to come.
Ralph Waldo Emerson