"In this great society wide lying around..." - Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
In this great society wide lying around us, a critical analysis would find very few spontaneous actions. It is almost all custom and gross sense.
More by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“In America and Europe, the nomadism is of trade and curiosity.”
“We are such lovers of self-reliance, that we excuse in a man many sins, if he will show us a complete satisfaction in his position, which asks no leave to be, of mine, or any man's good opinion.”
“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.”
More on Society
“When the true criminals are running around free, the only honorable place for a decent human being is in prisons.”
“You will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it.”
“Our age is bent on trying to make the barren tree of skepticism fruitful by tying the fruits of truth on its branches.”
More on Conformity
“The greater number of men are merely corporals.”
“These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.”
“It were not best that we should all think alike.”