Ralph Waldo Emerson: Only he who has can give.

Essay by AzarielUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, August 2005

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People come into this world to live. Sooner or later each one of them asks a question about the meaning and purpose of life. I believe that life consists of constant learning. Every day, every hour, every minute a person learns something new. Learning is not only the process of reading or memorizing by heart, but it is also listening, seeing, touching and most importantly, feeling. Everything a person knows is a result of this kind of experiential learning. That is why there are not many teachers who can really teach. Most of them, even if they personally have experienced deep feelings, still do not think that it is necessary to open up to their pupils. The human soul can opens up in response to same openness of the other one. That is why most people consider their parents the best teachers ever seen. Parents are usually open and sincere in their teaching; and those are the qualities people look for in each other and that are appreciated the most.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The spirit only can teach. Not any profane man, not any sensual, not any liar, not any slave can teach, but only he can give, who has, he can only create, who is." Through these words Emerson explains that knowledge is something that has to transfer from one person to another directly through their souls. Only information guided by spirit will reach its destination. Courage, piety, love and wisdom can teach effectively. He also believes that every man can open his doors to these angels, and they will make him speak. Emerson does not say that material things like books, encyclopedias or dictionaries can teach. Instead, he asserts that a feeling inside is a teacher. Emerson states, "But the man who aims to speak as books...