The reason why men do not obey us, is because they see the mud at the bottom of our eye.
Interpretation
People are often reluctant to follow others when they perceive their flaws or imperfections.
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that individuals may struggle to earn respect and obedience due to their visible imperfections or vulnerabilities. The metaphor of 'mud at the bottom of our eye' implies that when others can see our faults, it undermines our authority and diminishes the trust they place in us, making it difficult for them to follow our lead.
In practice
In a team meeting to encourage open communication and trust.
It is plain that there is no separate essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the heart containing drops or atoms that make or give this virtue; but it is the right or healthy state of every man, when he is free to do that which is constitutional to him to do.
Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.
Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations
Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakeably meant for his ear.
The world belongs to the energetic.
Hast thou named all the birds without a gun?
From time to time it's fun to close our eyes, and in that dark say to ourselves, 'I am the sorcerer, and when I open my eyes I shall see a world that I have created, and for which I and only I am completely responsible.' Slowly then, eyelids open like curtains lifting stage-center. And sure enough, there's our world, just the way we've built it.
How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man is enthroned visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul, the soul reveals itself in the voice only.
What is not brought to consciousness, comes to us as fate.
It destroys the soul to hear that you're all hype, that you have no talent, and that your whole career has been contrived.
There are some things about myself I can’t explain to anyone. There are some things I don’t understand at all. I can’t tell what I think about things or what I’m after. I don’t know what my strengths are or what I’m supposed to do about them. But if I start thinking about these things in too much detail the whole thing gets scary. And if I get scared I can only think about myself. I become really self-centered, and without meaning to, I hurt people. So I’m not such a wonderful human being.
All our actions, as well as our thoughts and words, should praise Him who always blesses us.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.