Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes About Praise

• Blame is safer than praise

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Criticism, Blame, Praise

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2014). “The Portable Emerson”, p.129, Penguin

• A man is known by the books he reads, by the company he keeps, by the praise he gives, by his dress, by his tastes, by his distastes, by the stories he tells, by his gait, by the notion of his eye, by the look of his house, of his chamber; for nothing on earth is solitary but every thing hath affinities infinite.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Book, Eye, Men

• But there is no end to the praise of books, to the value of the library. Who shall estimate their influence on our population where all the millions read and write ? It is the joy of nations that man can communicate all his thoughts, discoveries and virtues to records that may last for centuries.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Book, Writing, Men

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1921). “Representative men. Miscellanies”

• The house praises the carpenter.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  House, Achievement, Praise

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1976). “Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Volume XII: 1835-1862”, p.283, Harvard University Press

• A little praise goes a great ways.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Appreciation, Littles, Way

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1966). “Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks: 1824-1838”, p.198, Harvard University Press

• I hate to be defended in a newspaper. As long as all that is said is said against me, I feel a certain assurance of success. But as soon as honeyed words of praise are spoken for me, I feel as one that lies unprotected before his enemies.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Success, Lying, Hate

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1983). “Essays and Lectures”, p.298, Library of America

• We do what we must, and call it by the best names we can, and would fain have the praise of having intended the result which ensues.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Names, Praise, Results

  Ralph Waldo Emerson, David Mikics (2012). “The Annotated Emerson”, p.232, Harvard University Press

• Some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Praise, Spoiled

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2012). “Nature and Other Essays”, p.56, Courier Corporation

• When I was praised I lost my time, for instantly I turned around to look at the work I had thought slightly of, and that day I made nothing new.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  New Day, Looks, Praise

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson (Illustrated)”, p.3883, Delphi Classics

• Therefore all just persons are satisfied with their own praise. They refuse to explain themselves, and are content that new actions should do them that office. They believe that we communicate without speech, and above speech, and that no right action of ours is quite unaffecting to our friends, at whatever distance; for the influence of action is not to be measured by miles.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Distance, Believe, Office

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1937). “Essays, First and Second Series”, p.143, Jazzybee Verlag

• The highest praise we can attribute to any writer, painter, sculptor, builder, is, that he actually possessed the thought or feeling with which he has inspired us.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Inspirational, Art, Feelings

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1971). “The Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Society and solitude”, p.23, Harvard University Press

• Had I but written as many odes in praise of Muhammad and Ali as I have composed for King Mahmud, they would have showered a hundred blessings on me.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Kings, Blessing, Odes

• Behind every individual closes organization; before him opens liberty,--the Better, the Best. The first and worse races are dead.The second and imperfect races are dying out, or remain for the maturing of the higher. In the latest race, in man, every generosity, every new perception, the love and praise he extorts from his fellows, are certificates of advance out of fate into freedom.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Freedom, Fate, Men

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1982). “Emerson: Selected Essays”, p.360, Penguin

• Our high respect for a well-read man is praise enough for literature. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Reading, Men, Literature

• There is a mortifying experience in particular, which does not fail to wreak itself also in the general history; I mean "the foolish face of praise," the forced smile which we put on in company where we do not feel at ease, in answer to conversation which does not interest us. The muscles, not spontaneously moved but moved, by a low usurping wilfulness, grow tight about the outline of the face, with the most disagreeable sensation.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Mean, Doe, Answers

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1870). “The Prose Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson”, p.246, Рипол Классик

• Judicious praise is to children what the sun is to flowers. Christian Bovee A little praise Goes a great ways.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Christian, Children, Flower

• Sentimentalists ... adopt whatever merit is in good repute, and almost make it hateful with their praise. The warmer their expressions, the colder we feel.... Cure the drunkard, heal the insane, mollify the homicide, civilize the Pawnee, but what lessons can be devised for the debauchee of sentiment?

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Expression, Insane, Lessons

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2010). “Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Volume VIII: Letters and Social Aims”, p.57, Harvard University Press

• We thirst for approbation, yet cannot forgive the approver.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Forgiving, Praise, Thirst

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1870). “The Prose Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson”, p.378, Рипол Классик

• Your work should be in praise of what you love.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Praise, Should, What You Love

• Yet some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise, and wherever the vein of thought reaches down into the profound, there is no danger from vanity. Solemn friends will warn them of the danger of the head's being turned by the flourish of trumpets, but they can afford to smile.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Vanity, Profound, Veins

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2012). “Nature and Other Essays”, p.56, Courier Corporation

• The picture waits for my verdict; it is not to command me, but I am to settle its claim to praise.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Waiting, Painting, Praise

  Ralph Waldo Emerson (2011). “Natural Abundance: Ralph Waldo Emerson's Guide to Prosperity”, p.201, Simon and Schuster

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