Talk:Ralph Waldo Emerson

I can't seem to find another source to back up this wiki's claim that Emerson's dad complained about his reading at three years old. Anyone?

Im not sure it's entirely true... A three year old who's supposed to read well? - Abhorsen123 15:40, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

AlanH 14:59, 23 Mar 2005 (UTC)

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Changed "Emerson's most important prose works are:" to "Emerson's prose works include:". I think people might argue over which of his works are most important, so I chose something less POV. Also created a parallel "Emerson's poetry includes:" section for balance, with collections as well as individual poems.

Whysperseed 06:23, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)

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Rearranged and named the external links.

Whysperseed 05:51, Feb 8, 2005 (UTC)

previous external link layout:

External links

• Collected works on-line: http://www.emersoncentral.com/texts.htm
• http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96may/emerson.html
• http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=205&CFID=9951845&CFTOKEN=74436944
• http://www.rwe.org "The most important site for anything Emerson related. Texts and links"
• http://rwe.org/pages/centenary_edition_the_complete_works_of_RWE.htm "An almost completed collection of all of Emersons published works. Provided free."
• Project Gutenberg e-texts
  • Essays – First Series
  • Essays – Second Series
  • Representative Men

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"If the red slayer think he slays,

Or if the slain think he is slain,

They know not well the subtle ways

I keep, and pass, and turn again....

Brahma (1856)

... Far or forgot to me is near, Shadow and sunlight are the same, Vanished gods to me appear, and one to me are shame and fame. They reckon ill, who leave me out; When me they fly, I am the wings; I am the doubter and the doubt, and I the hymn the Brahmin sings. THe strong gods pine for my abode, and pine in vain the sacred seven, but though, meek lover of the good, find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

Rest of Brahma (- Abhorsen123 15:38, 14 January 2006 (UTC))

I love man,not men

Hitch your wagon to the stars. Emerson

he who has all the toys does not always win

wealth does not always bring happiness and goodness, but just the reverse

not all of life's experiences are to be found in books

this is the age of the first person singular

I find it strange that "his young *wife* and one true love" is named Miss not (Mrs.) Elena Louisa Tucker. Any ideas?

Emerson in favor of expelling blacks from America?

I have heard quite a few people mention that Emerson, while in favor of abolition of slavery, wished that after being set free all blacks would be sent back to Africa. Now while this will not change much my opinion of him if it happens to be true I still wish to know if this is simply slander or not (those comments that I have heard were uttered by Southerners who still hate Yankees). --The Individual 20:20, 15 October 2005 (UTC)

I believe that this was opinion not uncommon. But rather than "expelling", the idea would be to resettle blacks in their homeland. That's actually how the country of Liberia was founded:

Liberia, which means "Land of the Free", was founded by freed slaves from the United States under the supervision of the American Colonization Society in 1820. These Americo-Liberians established a settlement in Christopolis, soon renamed Monrovia, after U.S. president James Monroe, president of the Society, on 6 February, 1820. This group of 86 immigrants formed the nucleus of the settler population of what became known as the "Republic of Liberia". Lt. Robert F. Stockton of the U.S. Navy helped negotiate a treaty with the natives that led to the founding of new country.

The idea of resettling free slaves in Africa was nurtured by the American Colonization Society (ACS), an organization that governed the Commonwealth of Liberia until independence. Between 1817 and 1867, 13,000 freed slaves arrived with the help of the Society, leading to the formation of more settlements and culminating on 26 July 1847 in a declaration of independence of the Republic of Liberia. The style of government and constitution was said to be fashioned on that of the United States. The new Republic of Liberia adopted other American styles of life, including southern plantation-style houses with deep verandahs, and established thriving trade links with other West Africans. The Americo-Liberians distinguished themselves from the local people, characterized as 'natives,' by the universal appelation of "Mr."

--from History of Liberia --goethean ॐ 15:07, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Some abolitionists argued that slaves should return to Africa as free men, but Emerson never expressed that view.

His 1844 address, "Emancipation in the British West Indies," calls for a similar act of emacipation in the USA, with full citizenship: "...no race can be perfect whilst another race is degraded." See http://www.walden.org/Institute/thoreau/about2/E/Emerson_Ralph_Waldo/Writings/1844_Address/Emancipation.htm.

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The wiki article leaves out Emersons birthdate. It was 1803. And it wringly states that he was 8 in 1810, because he was actually seven. He would have to have been born in 1802 to be 8 then. - Abhorsen123 15:44, 14 January 2006 (UTC)