Ralph Waldo Emerson
Essays--First and Second Series
Reading notes--Adam Kissel
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Character, as latent power, outruns actual performance,
296-97
it’s not talent or eloquence, but some magnetism, 297
ethos, even found somewhat in politics, wins trust; it is faith in
a fact
[Riverside 311 says that Em. has Webster in mind
as eloquent without such faith]
this kind of faith is similar in the business of
trade: the successful trader fronts her facts, 298
on standards of natural
equity and public advantage, 299
consciousness of being an
agent and a playfellow of the original laws of the world, 299
Character is even more compelling in private; a liberating force; higher natures command the lower esp. in private, 299-300
Definitions:
truth: summit of being, 300
justice: application of truth to affairs, 300
character: since justice prevails and trust will out, “character is
this moral order seen through the medium of an individual nature,” 301
Men of character are the conscience of their societies, 301
they are above circumstance, 301-02
self-sufficing, nonconforming, 303
incessant growth, 305
their character cannot be measured by (external) works, 305-06
The friendship of virtuous men consists in mutual transcendent expansion, 311
On power to swell the moment out of the resources of the heart, 312
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MANNERS
pp. 315-340 (R 117-155)
On non-gentlemen, 315-16
On the gentleman: a creation of modern history; chivalry, loyalty, 316
a social average character, good within social bounds, 317; has
good sense, 329
has virtue, wit, beauty, wealth, power, 317
self-reliant, has manhood, gentleness, personal force, valor,
reality; animal spirits at minimum, 318
power, courage; able to be a ruler of society; above conditions,
318-19
need not money so much as wide affinity which transcends class,
319-20
invention and sympathy, 320
“Manners aim to facilitate life . . . and bring the man pure
to energize,” 320-21
manners devolve into mere Fashion, though there is affinity with it
(fashion is enjoyment without the work), 321
second generation falls into fashion; third generation
falls to the new class of doers, 322
fashion is social good-sense, 329
on aristocracy, 322: mutual selection of each other
rather than on basis of moral sentiment, after a while, 322-23
yet the natural gentlemen will break
in
Manners are not settled; behavior is secondary to the energy
of the individual, 324
good sense and character make
their own forms, 324
self-reliance excuses much,
deference excuses nothing, 324
do not worry about the
pretensions and gazes of fops, 325
on true vs. false hospitality: man truly in the house vs.
man of fineries, 325-26
courtesy counts on truth as its first point of practice, 327
On Montaigne in Italy, 327
True deference: respective the separateness of individuals, 327
Personal force: made up of kindness and independence,
328
Intellectual element of manners: fine perception of beauty, 328
love of beauty = love of measure/proportion, 329
one may perhaps lack measure only if one has genius instead,
329
the direct splendor of intellectual power is also quite
welcome, 329
Third element: good-nature, 330
heartiness and sympathy--Mr. Fox a shining example, 330-31
benevolence/love the basis of courtesy, 331 [cf. kindness]
real service is not lessened by imitations
of benevolence, 332-33
heroes still exist, mostly in private, 333
they create what
becomes fashion, in attempts to organize beautiful behavior [natural vs. actual
aristocracy], 334
a higher circle of
good society; romance of character; genius, courtesy; 335
Fashion and courtesy are subordinate to love,
the source of honor, 338
How to love and therefore to be rightly
rich, 339
Character emanates freely, 335
On women and women’s rights, 336-37
women inspire men toward nobility
On the extreme locality of mere fashion, 338
verdict not yet in on society and fashion--partly good, partly bad,
339-40
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GIFTS
pp. 341-45 (R 157-65)
R notes that this essay originally appeared in the Dial (R 323)
Good gift expresses he superiority of beauty to utility, 341
on hospitality and supplying first wants [necessities] first, 342
right gift: supplying what fits one’s character, or is associated with him in
thought, 342
“The only gift is a portion of thyself,” 342
gifts of love respect self-reliance, 343
proper reception of gift is neither to be glad nor sorry in the
gift itself, but to rejoice in the recognition of each other, 343
do not expect gratitude as the giver, 344
gift can only be symbolic; goodwill exceeds gift, 344
rectitude scatters its own favors anonymously, 345
the best of hospitality and generosity come not from will, but fate [nature],
345