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Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and SuccessRalph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

 

American writer (pictured right) and philosopher.

Leader of transcendentalism which believed in

  • nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success
  • the spirit of the individual.

Friend and teacher of Henry David Thoreau (pictured right).

 

What advice did he give about success?

Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

 

1. Health

Your health should be a top priority.

“The first wealth is health”, Emerson said.

 

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

2. Enthusiasm

  • seize every opportunity with energy and enthusiasm.
  • forget your worries and mistakes
  • start every day anew in high spirits.

 

 

3. PrincipleRalph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

  • be a person of principle 
  • live according to your values (particularly love).

“We put our love where we have put our labour”, he said.

 

 

4. Empowerment from kindnessRalph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

Treat people well and trust them.

Then they will:

  • take responsibility for their performance
  • show themselves to be great.

 

 

5. CourageRalph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

You need courage to:

  • overcome your problems.
  • prove your doubters wrong.

Choose the difficult option.

“Always do what you are afraid to do”, Emerson advised.

 

 

6. Responsibility and self-reliance

Only you are responsible for your life.

“No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself”, he said.

 

7. Learn

  • love learning.
  • challenge existing ideas (“be a nonconformist”, he said).
  • try new things and be original (“imitation is suicide”).

Good education:

  • loves wisdom.
  • respects the student.
  • produces good people.

“Character is higher than intellect”, he said.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

8. Faith and influence

  • have faith in something worthwhile
  • win people’s respect 
  • leave the world a better place.

“Make yourself necessary to somebody. Don’t make life hard to anybody”, Emerson said.

 

 

9. Ambition

  • do something great with your life
  • follow your dreams.

“Hitch your wagon to a star”, he said.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

10. Have fun

  • laugh a lot.
  • appreciate beauty.
  • find the best in others.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

11. Make friends

Be nice to them, and they will be nice to you.

 

12. Be philosophic

Accept that life is a mixture of good and bad.

“Every sweet has its sour; every evil its good”, he said.

 

 Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosophy and Success

13. Renew yourself

  • continually exploit your strengths.
  • work on your weaknesses.
  • improve yourself physically, intellectually and spiritually.

 


Key quote on health

The first wealth is health.

 

Key quote on love

Make yourself necessary to somebody. Don’t make life hard to anybody.

 

Key quote on human resource management

We put our love where we have put our labour

 

Key quote on stress

Always do what you are afraid to do.

 

Key quote on education and training

An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.

 

Key quotes on success

No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

 

Key quote on careers

Character is higher than intellect.

 

Key quote on objectives and vision

Hitch your wagon to a star.

 

Key quote on ethics

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.

 

Key quote on peace of mind

Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.

 

Key quote on empowerment

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great.

 

Key quote on positive thinking

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

 

Key quote on decision making

The ancestor of every action is a thought.

 

Key quote on change

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest achievement.

 

Key quote on creativity

The creation of a thousand forests is one acorn.

 

Key quote on religion

The test of a religion or philosophy is the number of things it can explain.

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