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About this quote

What does it mean?
Physical realities in the world represent deeper spiritual truths.
In plain terms
Nature shows us spiritual ideas.
What can you take from it?
Look beyond the surface to find deeper meaning.

Where it applies

  • philosophical study
  • nature observation
  • religious reflection

Putting it to work

  • study nature
  • meditate on symbols
  • seek deeper truths

Questions to consider

  • What does this object represent?
  • How does nature reflect your spirit?

Another view

Not everyone agrees that physical things map to spiritual ones.

More from Ralph Waldo Emerson

  1. Give me health and a day, and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.

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  2. We are, like Nebuchadnezzar, dethroned, bereft of reason, and eating grass like an ox.

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  3. Standing on the bare ground, - my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball…

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