"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters.." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803–82)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, scholar, philosopher, lecturer, and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement in the mid-19th century. Born into a family of ministers going back seven generations, he also graduated from Harvard Divinity School and became a minister.

However, he resigned due to disagreements over the nature of the communion rite. Emerson rejected religious dogma and formalism, advocating for individualism that valued human nature, which formed the basis of his transcendentalist beliefs. He proposed that humanity, God, and nature are ultimately unified. Emerson’s ideas are deeply rooted in American intellectual history and influenced later philosophers, earning him the title of the "Father of American Philosophy."

Inner Strength

The phrase, "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are nothing compared to what lies within us," is deeply connected to Emerson’s transcendentalist philosophy. He believed that an individual's inner world is far more important than external events or experiences. No matter how significant or overwhelming external events may seem, Emerson suggests that their true meaning depends on how we interpret and process them within ourselves.

I love this quote so much that for a time, I used to recite it to myself like a mantra. Even for someone as confident as I am, there are moments when I struggle with memories I’d rather forget, a reality I’d rather avoid, and a future that feels uncertain and frightening. In those moments, I recall Emerson’s words.

While we can’t change the past, and much of the future is beyond our control, I believe that by trusting in our own selves and inner strength, we can overcome any external challenge. Some may call it self-hypnosis, but if it works even a little, isn’t that enough?

Emerson: A Wealth of Wisdom

When it comes to memorable quotes, Emerson is undeniably a master. He has countless gems, but here are a few that particularly resonate with me.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” (Neo: I love this quote. People often set goals and live their lives aiming for them - like "I’ll be happy if I get into an Ivy League school," or "My life will be set once I earn a six-figure salary," or "I’ll be satisfied when I’ve saved a million dollars." But life isn’t about reaching the goal itself; it’s about the journey toward that goal. If life were only about achieving goals and reaching destinations, we’d only truly live in those fleeting moments of achievement. That’s not life. We need to start enjoying the journey and living in the present.)

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.” (Neo: I love this one too. I’m not someone who avoids challenges, but I don't actively seeking them either. Yet, I’ve realized that the more I experiment, the more I learn, and the more I see new possibilities.)

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” (Neo: As both a person and an investor, it’s important to set aside your ego and admit when you’ve made mistakes. Being stubborn and sticking to a mistake will only slow your progress. Adapting and correcting course is key to growth.)

“Self-trust is the first secret of success.” (Neo: So true. Without self-trust, you can’t take on new challenges. Even if the outcome is uncertain, you can still try new things, knowing that with each challenge, you’re getting better through experience.)

“Knowledge is the antidote to fear.” (Neo: As an investor, greed and fear are two emotions you must learn to control. If you can’t manage them, success in investing -especially in the stock market - becomes unlikely. I’ve found that the root of both greed and fear is often a lack of knowledge. The more you know, the less controlled you are by those  irrational emotions.)

“Concentration is the secret of strength in politics, in war, in trade, in short in all management of human affairs.” (Neo: You don’t always need concentration to get things done. But without it, you can’t do anything effectively, efficiently, or to the best of your ability.)

“Win as if you were used to it; lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.” (Neo: I like this quote very much. In both life and investing, you’ll experience wins and losses constantly. What matters is how you handle each small victory and setback along the way.)

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” (Neo: This ties into the previous quote. We are all bound to fail at times. The key is how quickly and strongly we rise after each failure.)

“Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting some on yourself.” (Neo: What a  beautifully poetic quote. To make my family, friends, and the people around me happy, I must first cultivate happiness within myself.)

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” (Neo: I love this. I hope everyone start practicing this mindset.)

I hope you’ve found an Emerson quote or two that resonates with you as well. Thanks for reading. Wish you grow rich slowly and surely!