Emerson+Bio+Essays+and+Quotes

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Biography: Born in boston on may 25, 1803. His father died when he was eight years old. Mary Moody Emerson, his aunt, became his educator and inspiration. He attended Harvard and graduated thirtienth in his class. He began to study theology and became a preacher and eventually became a pastor. In 1831, his wife Ellen Tucker Emerson died of tuberculosis. He then began to experience a spiritual crisis, questioning his faith, and resigned as a pastor. He traveled to Europe for a year, and studied art and natural science. He met and listened to many famous writers there, who would have an influence on his life, especially Thomas Carlyle. In 1835, he married Lydia Jackson and they moved to Concord. There, he wrote his first book, Nature. This book caused the formation of the "Trancendentalist Club."In 1834, his brother Edward died, and in 1836 his brither Charles died. Emerson did not become a well-known, famous writer until the publication of Essays in 1841. In 1842 his son Waldo died when he was only five years old, which Emerson was depressed about for the rest of his life. This loss influenced his skeptical essay "Experience." He expressed his antislavery views in "Emancipation ofthe Negroes in the British West Indies."He also spoke in favor of women's rights. He died on April 27, 1882.

Essays and their purpose:

Important Quotes that reveal purpose: From "The American Scholar":

"Meek young men grow up in libraries, believing it their duty to accept the views which Cicero, which Locke, which Bacon have given, forgetful that Cicero, Locke and Bacon were only young men in libraries when they wrote these books" (523).

"Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst" (523).

"This world--the shadow of the soul, or the //other me//, lies wide around. Its attractions are the keys which unlock my thoughts and make me acquainted with myself" (525).

"The true scholar grudges every oppurtunity of action past by, as a loss of power" (525).

"The one thing in the world of value, is, the active soul-- the soul, free, sovereign, active. This every man is entitled to" (523).

From "Self-reliance"

"To believe in your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,--that is genius" (533).

"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place that the divine Province has found for you" (534).

"The greatest man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude" (536).