Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.

Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misu

Summary

This quote, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, suggests that being misunderstood is not necessarily a negative thing. It highlights the fact that many influential and brilliant figures throughout history, such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton, were all misunderstood in their time. According to the quote, being great and renowned often entails being misunderstood as individuals who possess great wisdom and insight are often ahead of their time and go against societal norms and conventions. Therefore, the quote celebrates the idea that being misunderstood can be a sign of greatness.

Topics

Greatness

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

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