Our admiration of the antique
â
Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old,
but of the natural.
â
Meaning
This quote means what we really admire in ancient things is not their age but their naturalness and authenticity.
About Author
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, philosopher, and poet, known for his work on transcendentalism and individualism. His quotes often reflect self-reliance, wisdom, and introspection. Emerson inspires writers, thinkers, and students to embrace personal growth, independent thought, and the philosophical exploration of life and nature.
Related Quotes
â Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. â
This quote means flowers declare that beauty has a value beyond mere usefulness. Beauty justifies itself.
â Only as far as the masters of the world have called in nature to their aid, can they reach the height of magnificence. This is the meaning of their hanging gardens, villas, houses, islands, parks, and preserves. â
This quote means the highest human achievements reach full magnificence when they work with nature instead of apart from it.
â Character is always known. Thefts never enrich; alms never impoverish; murder will speak out of stone walls. â
This quote means character eventually reveals itself, and moral acts or crimes cannot remain hidden forever.