A complete man should need no auxiliaries to his personal presence.
Interpretation
A truly complete individual relies on their own strength and character rather than seeking external validation or support.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote emphasizes the importance of self-sufficiency and personal integrity. A complete person possesses inner strength and confidence that allow them to engage with the world authentically, without the need for external aids or approval. This idea suggests that true fulfillment comes from within, and that one's personal presence and essence should be enough to navigate life's challenges and relationships.
In practice
During a motivational speech about self-esteem, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of believing in oneself.
It is plain that there is no separate essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the heart containing drops or atoms that make or give this virtue; but it is the right or healthy state of every man, when he is free to do that which is constitutional to him to do.
Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.
Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations
Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakeably meant for his ear.
The world belongs to the energetic.
Hast thou named all the birds without a gun?
I just try to make sure, in everything I do, I do what I'm supposed to be doing in a confident and a humble way at the same time. It's been working for me.
Our world requires that decisions be sourced and footnoted, and if we say how we feel, we must also be prepared to elaborate on why we feel that way...We need to respect the fact that it is possible to know without knowing why we know and accept that - sometimes - we're better off that way.
So, the tendency of our childish nature is to take small things too seriously and get easily offended, whereas when we are confronted with situations which have long-term consequences, we tend to take things less seriously
When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you.
Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.
Be secret and exult, Because of all things known That is most difficult.
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