If the single man plant himself indomitably on his instincts, and there abide, the huge world will come round to him.
Interpretation
Trusting and following your instincts can lead to significant opportunities and acceptance from the world around you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and embracing one's instincts. When a person is steadfast in their beliefs and values, they can attract the world to their perspective, suggesting that authenticity and confidence can lead to positive recognition and acceptance from others.
In practice
During a motivational speech to inspire individuals to pursue their dreams.
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?
The genius of man is hidden in the silent, settled state of mind from where every thought emerges.
There are joys which long to be ours. God sends ten thousands truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing, but sit and sing awhile upon the roof, and then fly away.
One can either work or meet. One cannot do both at the same time.
Only in quietness do we possess our own minds and discover the resources of the Inner Life.
To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment.
The moment that we realize our attention has wandered is the magic moment of the practice, because that's the moment we have the chance to be really different. Instead of judging ourselves, and berating ourselves, and condemning ourselves, we can be gentle with ourselves.
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