Author(s): Ralph Waldo Emerson

Philosophy

Excerpt from Friendship, and Other Essays

Our intellectual and active powers increase with our.affection. The scholar sits down to write, and all his years of meditation do not furnish 'him with one good thought or happy expression; but it is necessary to write a letter to a friend, and, forthwith, troops of gentle thoughts invest themselves on every hand, with chosen words. Lsee ln any house where virtue and self-respect abide, the palpitation which the approach of a stranger causes. A commended stranger is expected and an nounced, and an uneasiness between pleasure and pain invades all the hearts of a household. His arrival almost brings fear to the good hearts that would welcome him. The house is dusted, all things fly into their places, the old coat is exchanged for the new, and theymust get up a-dinner'if they-can. Of a com mended stranger, only the good report is told by others, only the good and new is heard by us. He stands to us for humanity. He is, what we wish. Having imagined and invested him, we ask how we Should 'stand related in conversation and action with such a man, and are uneasy with 'fear. The same idea exalts conversation with him. We talk better than we are wont. We have the nimblest fancy, a richer memory, and our dumb devil has taken leave for the time. For long hours we can continue a'series of sincere, graceful, rich com munications, drawn from the oldest, secretest experience, so that they whosit by, of our own kinsfolk and acquaintance, shall feel a lively surprise at our unusual powers. But as soon as the stranger begins to intrude his partiali ties, his definitions, his defects, into the con versation, it is all over. He has heard the first, the last and best, he will ever hear from us. He is no stranger now. Vulgarity, ignorance, misapprehension, are old acquaintances. Now.

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