Representative Men

Representative Men is a collection of essays written by the renowned American philosopher and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson. The book was first published in 1850 and consists of seven essays that explore the lives and ideas of some of the most influential figures in history. The essays in Representative Men are each dedicated to a different person, including Plato, Shakespeare, Napoleon, and Goethe. Emerson examines the lives and works of these individuals, delving into their philosophies, personalities, and legacies. In his essay on Plato, Emerson explores the Greek philosopher's ideas on truth, beauty, and justice, and how they have influenced Western thought. In his essay on Shakespeare, Emerson praises the playwright's ability to capture the human experience in his writing, and how his work has continued to resonate with audiences for centuries. The essay on Napoleon examines the French emperor's rise to power and his impact on European history, while the essay on Goethe explores the German writer's contributions to literature, science, and philosophy. Throughout the book, Emerson emphasizes the importance of individualism and self-reliance, as well as the power of great ideas to shape the course of history. Representative Men is a thought-provoking and insightful look at some of the most influential figures in human history, and their enduring legacies.AMONG eminent persons, those who are most dear to men are not of the class which the economist calls producers: they have nothing in their hands; they have not cultivated corn, nor made bread; they have not led out a colony, nor invented a loom. A higher class, in the estimation and love of this city-building market-going race of mankind, are the poets.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.