Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes

Ability to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, is the characteristic of intelligence.

The first point of wisdom is to discern that which is false; the second, to know that which is true.

Wise men argue causes; fools decide them.

It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, this is the mark and character of intelligence.

True scholarship consists in knowing not what things exist, but what they mean; it is not memory but judgment.

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.

The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

Judgment is more than skill. It sets forth on intellectual seas beyond the shores of hard indisputable factual information.

Too much and too little wine. Give him none, he cannot find truth; give him too much, the same.

Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but in the negation of that which is false.

Judgment is contained in the act of trying to understand.

A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.

Philosophy is nothing but discretion.

Our analysis of truth and falsehood, or of the nature of judgment, is not very likely to be influenced by our hopes and fears.

Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom.

These rare senses and powers of reasoning were given to be used freely, but not audaciously, to discover, not to pervert the truth.

It's not the quantity of your decisions; it's the quality.

Opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.

I think people got more common sense than people give 'em credit for.

In truth, opinion may be taken for understanding; understanding cannot be taken for opinion. How so? Surely because opinion may be deceived; understanding cannot be. If it could, it would not be understanding but opinion. For true understanding has not only certain truth, but the knowledge of truth.

We can all make better decisions when we're informed.

There's got to be a point in time where the reality comes home and people realize, here are the facts, and this is either not true or it is true. You've got the facts, you can make your own decision now.

To think truly is noble and to be deceived is base.

You can't be wise without being intelligent, but you certainly can be intelligent without being wise.