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Meaning
This points to a quiet argument for clarity over excess. It can be read as saying that what matters most is often plain, elegant, and free of clutter, and that those things deserve attention because they hold a kind of truth. It lands when someone is overwhelmed by complexity and needs to return to basics.
When It Was Said
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
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About Ralph Waldo Emerson
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.
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READ THE SOURCE
Books by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Essays: First Series
Includes Self-Reliance.