We honor the rich, because they have externally the freedom, power, and grace which we feel to be proper to man, proper to us.
 Ralph Waldo Emerson, History (1841). copy citation

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Author Ralph Waldo Emerson
Source History
Topic freedom honor
Date 1841
Language English
Reference in "Essays: First Series"
Note
Weblink https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Essays:_First_Series/History

Context

“— because there law was enacted, the sea was searched, the land was found, or the blow was struck for us, as we ourselves in that place would have done or applauded. We have the same interest in condition and character. We honor the rich, because they have externally the freedom, power, and grace which we feel to be proper to man, proper to us. So all that is said of the wise man by Stoic, or oriental or modern essayist, describes to each reader his own idea, describes his unattained but attainable self. All literature writes the character of the wise man.” source