10 Inspirational Quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of my favorite poets and writers, although he died 100 years before I was born. This author, essayist, poet and philosopher was an inspiration to many and his spirit lives on through his written word. He was known for saying things like "hitch your wagon to a star" and "the only reward of virtue is virtue". From the writings of this great man, we can learn more about ourselves and about the world. He asks us to look deeper inside ourselves and others to see more than just what is on the surface. He challenges us to be our very best.

Here are 10 inspirational quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"Beware when the great God lets loose a thinker on this planet. Then all things are at risk. It is as when a conflagration has broken out in a great city, and no man knows what is safe, or where it will end."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The less a man thinks or knows about his virtues, the better we like him."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Is not marriage an open question, when it is alleged, from the beginning of the world, that such as are in the institution wish to get out, and such as are out wish to get in? "
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Men are what their mothers made them."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson