"Ideas must work through the brains and arms of men, or they are no better than dreams" ― Ralph Waldo Emerson From Ralph Waldo Emerson Philosopher Added on 1/31/2026 About Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and philosopher, and a leading voice of New England Transcendentalism. His works, including Nature and Self-Reliance, influenced American literature and modern thought. Born: 1803-05-25 Died: 1882-01-01 View all quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson