Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
What it means
Envy forgets that you have your own plot of ground to work. Imitation kills the one thing only you can do. Emerson says every person reaches this conviction sooner or later, so reach it early.
The source
"Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide." Ralph Waldo Emerson said it in Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841). Written in English: Essays: First Series, 1841.
"envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide"Original English (Essays: First Series, 1841), Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841). Text read at gutenberg.org.
Who said it
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). American essayist and lecturer who led the Transcendentalists. His lines here come from Nature, Self-Reliance and his Essays.
Questions
- What does "Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide." mean?
- Envy forgets that you have your own plot of ground to work. Imitation kills the one thing only you can do. Emerson says every person reaches this conviction sooner or later, so reach it early.
- Who said "Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide."?
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882). Source: Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841).
- What is the original wording?
- envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide (Original English (Essays: First Series, 1841)). Written in English: Essays: First Series, 1841.
- Is "Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841), trans. Original English (Essays: First Series, 1841)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/envy-is-ignorance-imitation-is-suicide
Filed under Self.
Wear it your way
The same line in every look it fits. Each one is printed to order on heavy cotton, same price.
More from Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Trust yourself. Every heart vibrates to that iron string.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Whoever would be a man must be a nonconformist.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Nothing is sacred but the integrity of your own mind.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- To be great is to be misunderstood.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Insist on yourself. Never imitate.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)
- Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.Self-Reliance (Essays: First Series, 1841)