What did Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great essayist, mean in this quote from a lecture in 1871?
What does the quote,
"If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a
better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the
woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door"
even mean?
meaning phrase-meaning quotes sentence-meaning
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
add a comment |
What does the quote,
"If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a
better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the
woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door"
even mean?
meaning phrase-meaning quotes sentence-meaning
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
2
It's perfectly clear English to me. What part is unclear to you? Please go into more detail, because otherwise this question may be closed as "unclear what you're asking".
– JPmiaou
Jan 19 '18 at 4:58
1
It may be worth noting that some years prior to that lecture, the writer Henry David Thoreau actually did build and live in a house in the woods (specifically, woods belonging to Emerson) and wrote a well-known book about it.
– David K
Jan 19 '18 at 5:43
add a comment |
What does the quote,
"If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a
better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the
woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door"
even mean?
meaning phrase-meaning quotes sentence-meaning
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
What does the quote,
"If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a
better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the
woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door"
even mean?
meaning phrase-meaning quotes sentence-meaning
meaning phrase-meaning quotes sentence-meaning
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
edited Jan 19 '18 at 2:30
DJClayworth
9,7071930
9,7071930
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
asked Jan 19 '18 at 1:59
user277065user277065
61
61
2
It's perfectly clear English to me. What part is unclear to you? Please go into more detail, because otherwise this question may be closed as "unclear what you're asking".
– JPmiaou
Jan 19 '18 at 4:58
1
It may be worth noting that some years prior to that lecture, the writer Henry David Thoreau actually did build and live in a house in the woods (specifically, woods belonging to Emerson) and wrote a well-known book about it.
– David K
Jan 19 '18 at 5:43
add a comment |
2
It's perfectly clear English to me. What part is unclear to you? Please go into more detail, because otherwise this question may be closed as "unclear what you're asking".
– JPmiaou
Jan 19 '18 at 4:58
1
It may be worth noting that some years prior to that lecture, the writer Henry David Thoreau actually did build and live in a house in the woods (specifically, woods belonging to Emerson) and wrote a well-known book about it.
– David K
Jan 19 '18 at 5:43
2
2
It's perfectly clear English to me. What part is unclear to you? Please go into more detail, because otherwise this question may be closed as "unclear what you're asking".
– JPmiaou
Jan 19 '18 at 4:58
It's perfectly clear English to me. What part is unclear to you? Please go into more detail, because otherwise this question may be closed as "unclear what you're asking".
– JPmiaou
Jan 19 '18 at 4:58
1
1
It may be worth noting that some years prior to that lecture, the writer Henry David Thoreau actually did build and live in a house in the woods (specifically, woods belonging to Emerson) and wrote a well-known book about it.
– David K
Jan 19 '18 at 5:43
It may be worth noting that some years prior to that lecture, the writer Henry David Thoreau actually did build and live in a house in the woods (specifically, woods belonging to Emerson) and wrote a well-known book about it.
– David K
Jan 19 '18 at 5:43
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The meaning is pretty much what he writes. A short paraphrase is
If a person can do something better than others, then other people will seek them out.
Specifically:
If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap...
Those are just examples. He means in general if someone can do something well.
than his neighbour
than other people around him, not just those in his neighbourhood.
even if he builds his house in the woods
even though he lives somewhere remote and hard to get to
the world will make a beaten path to his door
people will put in a lot of effort to get to him. Specifically this refers to making a path through the wood, often done by beating down the shrubs and plants until they can be walked over.
It's worth noting that the phrase 'build a better mousetrap' has passed into the English language as a phrase meaning 'make something better than everyone else', thanks to this quote.
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
add a comment |
He is basically saying that if you build something better then someone else or improve on a design that people will go out of their way to find you.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The meaning is pretty much what he writes. A short paraphrase is
If a person can do something better than others, then other people will seek them out.
Specifically:
If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap...
Those are just examples. He means in general if someone can do something well.
than his neighbour
than other people around him, not just those in his neighbourhood.
even if he builds his house in the woods
even though he lives somewhere remote and hard to get to
the world will make a beaten path to his door
people will put in a lot of effort to get to him. Specifically this refers to making a path through the wood, often done by beating down the shrubs and plants until they can be walked over.
It's worth noting that the phrase 'build a better mousetrap' has passed into the English language as a phrase meaning 'make something better than everyone else', thanks to this quote.
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
add a comment |
The meaning is pretty much what he writes. A short paraphrase is
If a person can do something better than others, then other people will seek them out.
Specifically:
If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap...
Those are just examples. He means in general if someone can do something well.
than his neighbour
than other people around him, not just those in his neighbourhood.
even if he builds his house in the woods
even though he lives somewhere remote and hard to get to
the world will make a beaten path to his door
people will put in a lot of effort to get to him. Specifically this refers to making a path through the wood, often done by beating down the shrubs and plants until they can be walked over.
It's worth noting that the phrase 'build a better mousetrap' has passed into the English language as a phrase meaning 'make something better than everyone else', thanks to this quote.
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
add a comment |
The meaning is pretty much what he writes. A short paraphrase is
If a person can do something better than others, then other people will seek them out.
Specifically:
If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap...
Those are just examples. He means in general if someone can do something well.
than his neighbour
than other people around him, not just those in his neighbourhood.
even if he builds his house in the woods
even though he lives somewhere remote and hard to get to
the world will make a beaten path to his door
people will put in a lot of effort to get to him. Specifically this refers to making a path through the wood, often done by beating down the shrubs and plants until they can be walked over.
It's worth noting that the phrase 'build a better mousetrap' has passed into the English language as a phrase meaning 'make something better than everyone else', thanks to this quote.
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
The meaning is pretty much what he writes. A short paraphrase is
If a person can do something better than others, then other people will seek them out.
Specifically:
If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap...
Those are just examples. He means in general if someone can do something well.
than his neighbour
than other people around him, not just those in his neighbourhood.
even if he builds his house in the woods
even though he lives somewhere remote and hard to get to
the world will make a beaten path to his door
people will put in a lot of effort to get to him. Specifically this refers to making a path through the wood, often done by beating down the shrubs and plants until they can be walked over.
It's worth noting that the phrase 'build a better mousetrap' has passed into the English language as a phrase meaning 'make something better than everyone else', thanks to this quote.
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
edited Jan 19 '18 at 15:41
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
answered Jan 19 '18 at 2:35
DJClayworthDJClayworth
9,7071930
9,7071930
add a comment |
add a comment |
He is basically saying that if you build something better then someone else or improve on a design that people will go out of their way to find you.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
He is basically saying that if you build something better then someone else or improve on a design that people will go out of their way to find you.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
He is basically saying that if you build something better then someone else or improve on a design that people will go out of their way to find you.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
He is basically saying that if you build something better then someone else or improve on a design that people will go out of their way to find you.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
answered 6 mins ago
pablo murielpablo muriel
1
1
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
pablo muriel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
It's perfectly clear English to me. What part is unclear to you? Please go into more detail, because otherwise this question may be closed as "unclear what you're asking".
– JPmiaou
Jan 19 '18 at 4:58
1
It may be worth noting that some years prior to that lecture, the writer Henry David Thoreau actually did build and live in a house in the woods (specifically, woods belonging to Emerson) and wrote a well-known book about it.
– David K
Jan 19 '18 at 5:43