He is great who is what he is from Nature, and who never reminds us of others.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True greatness comes from being authentic to one's natural self rather than imitating others.
- In plain terms
- Be yourself and do not try to copy other people.
- What can you take from it?
- Authenticity is the foundation of true greatness.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How often do you imitate others?
- What makes you uniquely you?
Another view
Sometimes social norms require us to adapt rather than act purely on nature.
More from Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pass in, pass in, the angels say, In to the upper doors; Nor count compartments of the floors, But mount to Paradise By the stairway of surprise.
Permalink to quote #180 When nature removes a great man, people explore the horizon for a successor; but none comes, and none will. His class is extinguished with him. In some other a…
Permalink to quote #182 Hast thou named all the birds without a gun; Loved the wood-rose, and left it on its stalk.
Permalink to quote #179
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