Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote on Superstitions

"We boast our emancipation from many superstitions; but if we have broken any idols, it is through a transfer of idolatry." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

About Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an American poet, essayist, and philosopher. He is widely noted for being the leading figure of the Transcendentalist movement. He was also known to greatly influence the then growing New Thought movement of the middle of the 19th century. He was also widely seen at the time as a champion of individualism and outspoken critic of the social issues of the time. Emerson was also considered as one of the greatest orators of the time. His essay “Nature,” which laid the foundation of Transcendentalism, was considered as the “Intellectual Declaration of Independence.”

Explanation

It is actually a quote that shows the irony of the supposed evolution of the mindset of mankind, or at least it’s supposed “liberalization.” For many years, and actually until now, the world’s different cultures seem have one thing in common—they are all guided by their own set of superstitions. These beliefs had guided the everyday lives of the members of the society, often times despite their social status. There were also occasions that those superstitions set history—indicating how influential it is to human society. But as time went on, and as science became bigger and more validated, people began dropping most superstitious beliefs from their lives, although the respect to those beliefs are still there. According to the quote, however, that people only drop these beliefs so they can believe another, as they had believed the superstitions before, blindly. Those new beliefs may be science, or other more “practical” superstations that fit into the modern world.