Journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson; With Annotations Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: ... I grossly undervalue the gift I possess, if I limit its capacity to the puny round of every day's sensations. It is a ticket of admission to an-. other world of ineffable grandeur--to unknown/ orders of things which are as real as they ara stupendous. As soon as it has advanced a little in life it opens its eye to thoughts which tax its whole power, and delight it by their greatness and novelty. These suggest kindred conceptions, which give birth to others, and thus draw the mind on in a path which it perceives is interminable, and is of interminable joy. To this high favoured intellect is added an intuition that it can never end, and that with its choice it can go forward to take the boon of immortal Happiness. These are causes and states of pleasure which no reason can deny. But this is the true history of all the individuals of the mighty nations that breathe today. These point also to a source--which is the Benevolence of God. But a groan of the dying, a cry of torture from the diseased, the sob of the mourner, answer to this thanksgiving of human nature and produce a discord in our anthem of praise. If God is good, why are any of his creatures unhappy?... Those who consider the foundations of human happiness find that it is a contrasted and comparative thing.... High and multiplied sources of pleasure are often in our possession, without being enjoyed, for they never were lacking; God disturbs or removes them for a time; and he is dull, who sees no wisdom in this mode of giving them value and sharpening the blunted edge of appetite. Thus Health and Peace are,82Z PROFESSOR NORTON 195 insipid goods, until you have been able to compare them with the torments of Pain and the visitation of War. And after this comparison has once been made, man...