"Mysticism is the mistake of an accidental and individual symbol for an universal one"

Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote speaks to the idea that mysticism is a misconception of a symbol. He recommends that a person may take a symbol that is implied to represent something universal and mistakenly interpret it as something particular to them. This can lead to a misunderstanding of the true significance of the sign and the concept it is suggested to represent. Emerson's quote indicates that mysticism is a result of an absence of understanding of the real significance of a symbol. He recommends that if one were to take the time to understand the real meaning of a symbol, they would be able to recognize it as a universal sign and not a private one. By doing this, they would be able to acquire a better understanding of the idea the symbol is indicated to represent. Emerson's quote talks to the idea that mysticism is an outcome of a lack of understanding of the true meaning of a symbol and that if one were to make the effort to understand the true significance of a sign, they would be able to recognize it as a universal sign and not a private one.