15 Great Quotes From Emerson That Will Inspire, Empower and Light Up Your Life
A treasury of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) from his journals and writings that are well springs of wisdom we can all benefit from applying to our lives.
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“Do not go where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path And leave a trail.” “I choose to live by choice, not chance; To be motivated, not manipulated; To be useful, not used; To make changes, not excuses; To excel, not compete. I choose self esteem, Not self pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice, Not to the random opinion of others.” “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, But in rising up every time we fall.” “Life is a journey, Not a destination.” “What lies behind us And what lies before us Are tiny matters compared To what lies within us.”
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“The purpose of life Is not to be happy. It is to be useful, To be honorable, To be compassionate, To have it make some difference That you have lived And lived well.” “Nothing great is ever achieved Without enthusiasm.” “You cannot do a kindness too soon, For you never know when too soon Will be too late.” “The only way to have a friend Is to be one.” “Nature always wears the Colors of the spirit.” “To be yourself in a world That is constantly trying to Make you something else is The greatest accomplishment.” “Never lose an opportunity of seeing Something beautiful, for beauty Is God’s handwriting.”
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“Write it on your heart that every day Is the best day of the year. He is rich who owns the day, And no one owns the day who Allows it to be invaded with fret and worry. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities No doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, Tomorrow is a new day; Begin it well and serenely, With too high a spirit to be Encumbered with your old nonsense. This day is too dear, With its hopes and invitations, To waste a moment on the yesterdays.” “This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, Smiles when sadness intrudes, Rainbows to follow the clouds, Laughter to kiss your lips, Sunsets to warm your heart, Hugs when spirits sag, Beauty for your eyes to see, Friendships to brighten your being, Faith so that you can believe, Confidence for when you doubt, Courage to know yourself, Patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” “Live your life to the fullest With passion and enthusiasm.”
Photo Credit: Still Mountain Meditation Center “Be the unconditionally loving, caring and Compassionate person you have been Longing for to share your life with first So that those who want to share their love And life with you will be drawn to The light you are emanating into the world.” —Chinmayan Thank you for the privilege of your time that you have spent here with us today! If you’d like to explore the wide wonderful world of “The Dawning Light” and our many stories, please visit us at: thedawninglight.substack.com anytime! If you loved this story, please click on the little heart below to show us and the world that you did… If you know anyone who would love this story or be helped by it, feel free to share it, or any of our stories with them… We’d love to hear your thoughts or responses to this story which would help us constantly improve this labor of love…so please click on the comment button below! Have an awesomely beautiful day…and until we meet again…onwards and upwards!