“Every man is an impossibility until he is born. ~”
What this quote means
This quote celebrates the miracle of existence. Every birth is an improbable event, a defiance of statistics and expectations. It invites us to recognize the unique value of every life, including our own. Before birth, we were an impossibility; yet here we are, with infinite possibilities ahead. It's a reflection on the precious and extraordinary nature of life.
How to apply it daily
Take a moment to reflect on the uniqueness of your existence, and write down three things that make your life precious.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Ralph Waldo Emerson?
Our starting point
Discovering self-reliance and independence of mind
Essays: First Series
It includes “Self-Reliance,” the essay that unlocks many quotations attributed to Emerson.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Reading time
- 6–8 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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