Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote

The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to the people, supplies a foundation for his edifice; and, in furnishing so much work done to his hand, leaves him at leisure, and in full strength for the audacities of his imagination.


Emerson's Complete Works: Representative men (ed. 1883)


The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to...

The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to...

The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to...

The poet needs a ground in popular tradition on which he may work, and which, again, may restrain his art within the due temperance. It holds him to...