“In the highest civilization, the book is still the highest delight. He who has once known its satisfactions is provided with a resource against calamity.”

American essayist and poet of the 19th century, Emerson is best known for his transcendentalist philosophy and influential lectures on self-reliance and individualism. His works, including "Self-Reliance" and "Nature," championed intuition, personal experience, and the inherent goodness of humanity.