Every man is a borrower and a mimic, life is theatrical and literature a quotation.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that humans inherently take from others while trying to navigate life, which is like a performance, heavily influenced by existing works.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote reflects the idea that individuals are not original creators but rather borrowers of thoughts and experiences. He implies that life itself is akin to a play where people imitate others, and literature serves as a compendium of borrowed ideas and expressions. This highlights the interconnectedness of human experiences and the notion that our actions and creations are often influenced by those who came before us, challenging the idea of absolute originality.
In practice
In a speech about creativity, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of drawing inspiration from past works.
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?
Bring down the curtain, the farce is over
If there is a God that has special plans for humans, then He has taken very great pains to hide His concern for us. To me it would seem impolite if not impious to bother such a God with our prayers.
I like the stars. It's the illusion of permanence, I think. I mean, they're always flaring up and caving in and going out. But from here, I can pretend... I can pretend that things last.
Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves.
If it be true that spirit is involved in Matter and apparent Nature is secret God, then the manifestation in the divine in himself and the realization of God within and without are the highest and most legitimate aim possible to man on earth.
From childhood, we're trained to be a certain way, to behave a certain way - so that the power base can control us, really. And punk and drag are completely outside of that.
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