"Men's actions are too strong for them. Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
About this Quote
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson speaks to the idea that our actions frequently have consequences that we are unable to control. We may believe that we are in control of our actions, however in reality, our actions can have a powerful and lasting effect on our lives. Emerson is suggesting that we are typically the victims of our own actions, and that we are unable to leave the effects of our choices. He is emphasizing the importance of bearing in mind our actions and the prospective consequences that they may have. This quote acts as a tip that our actions have the power to form our lives, and that we ought to understand the potential consequences of our choices.
"The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this, and learn to imitate it"
"Creating the kind of connections between people that lead to collective civic action, political expression, community dialogue, shared cultural experiences"
