"A man is reputed to have thought..." - Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
A man is reputed to have thought and eloquence; he cannot, for all that, say a word to his cousin or his uncle. They accuse his silence with as much reason as they would blame the insignificance of a dial in the shade. In the sun it will mark the hour. Among those who enjoy his thought, he will regain his tongue.
More by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.”
“It is the same among the men and women, as among the silent trees; always a referred existence, an absence, never a presence and satisfaction. Is it, that beauty can never be grasped? In persons and in landscape is equally inaccessible?”
“The right eloquence needs no bell to call the people together, and no constable to keep them.”
More on Communication
“When arguing with a fool, make sure the opponent isn't doing the exact same thing.”
“If the oarsmen of a fast-moving ship suddenly cease to row, the suspension of the driving force of the oars doesn't prevent the vessel from continuing to move on its course. And with a speech it is much the same. After he has finished reciting the document, the speaker will still be able to maintain the same tone without a break, borrowing its momentum and impulse from the passage he has just read out.”
“Did you ever notice how difficult it is to argue with someone who is not obsessed with being right?”
More on Social Interaction
“"Oh!" said my aunt, "I was not aware at first to whom I had the pleasure of objecting."”
“Scurrility has no object in view but incivility; if it is uttered from feelings of petulance, it is mere abuse; if it is spoken in a joking manner, it may be considered raillery.”
“A member of the committee slapped a name tag over my left bosom. "What shall we name the other one?" I smiled. She was not amused.”