Excerpts from “Essays, First Series” by Ralph Waldo Emerson (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

Let us continue exploring the profound philosophical ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson (vegetarian) through “Circles” from “Essays, First Series.”

“There are degrees in idealism. We learn first to play with it academically, as the magnet was once a toy. Then we see in the heyday of youth and poetry that it may be true, that it is true in gleams and fragments. Then its countenance waxes stern and grand, and we see that it must be true. It now shows itself as ethical and practical. We learn that God is; that He is in me; and that all things are shadows of Him.”

“Life is a series of surprises. We do not guess today the mood, the pleasure, the power of tomorrow, when we are building up our being. Of lower states, of acts of routine and sense, we can tell somewhat; but the masterpieces of God, the total growths and universal movements of the soul, He hides; they are incalculable. I can know that truth is divine and helpful; but how it shall help me I can have no guess, for so to be is the sole inlet of so to know.”