"Great hearts steadily send forth the secret forces that incessantly draw great events"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
About this Quote
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson talks to the power of the human spirit and its capability to form the world around us. It recommends that fantastic events are not simply random occurrences, but rather the result of the collective efforts of many people. The "great hearts" discussed in the quote are those people who are driven by a strong sense of function and are willing to put in the hard work necessary to make a difference. These individuals are the ones who are constantly pressing the limits and making every effort to make the world a better place. They are the ones who are sending the "secret forces" that are eventually responsible for the great occasions that occur. In other words, it is the cumulative efforts of these individuals that are responsible for the favorable changes that happen in the world.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"