Ralph Waldo Emerson
Essayist, Philosopher, Poet
"There is an optical illusion about every person we meet."
Transcendentalism quotes
Transcendentalism
29 quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Henry David Thoreau
Writer, Philosopher
"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."
Henry David Thoreau
Writer, Philosopher
"In wildness is the preservation of the world."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Political Activist, Diplomat
"You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself."
Henry David Thoreau
Writer, Philosopher
"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."
Explore further
Topics related to Transcendentalism
Browse quotes that often appear alongside transcendentalism — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
Transcendentalism quotes (page 1 of 2)
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"Advertising is the very essence of democracy."
Read quote
10 likes
"I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically."
Read quote
8 likes
"Surely, we are provided with senses as well fitted to penetrate the spaces of the real, the substantial, the eternal, as these outward are to penetrate the material universe. Veias, Menu, Zoroaster, Socrates, Christ, Shakespeare, Swedenborg,--these are some of our astronomers."
Read quote
6 likes
"As for Doing-good, that is one of the professions which are full."
Read quote
6 likes
"Things are in the saddle. And ride mankind."
Read quote
5 likes
"I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary."
Read quote
5 likes
"Society acquires new arts, and loses old instincts."
Read quote
4 likes
"We do not enjoy poetry unless we know it to be poetry."
Read quote
3 likes
"Everything may serve a lower as well as a higher use."
Read quote
3 likes
"Every man is entitled to come to Cattle-Show, even a transcendentalist; and for my part I am more interested in the men than in the cattle."
Read quote
3 likes