...in direct vision, like Emerson, protested: i Dialogues phil, 265. * Avrnir de la science, 132. " Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchres of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticisms." But in this matter Emerson's voice was that of one crying in the wilderness. The fascination...

...challenge to originality resembles the first address of Emerson, in this very spot, a generation before. " Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? " asks the transcendentalist. " Why should not we have a philosophy of insight and not of tradition...

...melodiously in winds or waters ; and always it is an inspiration to learn wisdom at first hand : " Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchres of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, criticisms. The foregoing generations beheld God and Nature face to face ; we, through their eyes....

...as many children have, such as Emerson referred to when he said : " The earlier generations saw God face to face ; we through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to Nature ? " It might be thought that the more science grows the more feeling should deepen. " All knowledge,"...

..."The foregoing generations," wrote Emerson in words that are as applicable to our times as to his, "beheld God and nature face to face; we through their...enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should we not have a poetry and a philosophy of insight instead of traditions, and religion by revelation...

..."Our age is reduced to the sepulchre of the fathers; it writes biographies, histories, and criticisms. The foregoing generations beheld God and Nature face...also enjoy an original relation to the Universe?" He tells of the delight he feels in the presence of God's creation, and sees in it a source not merely...

...influence Emerson has exerted through •his call to look at all reality immediately, at first hand. "The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face ; we through their eyes. Why xshould not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe ? " Again, he says, " Yourself a newborn...

...originality, in thought and experience, cultivated. 'The foregoing generations," he wrote in Nature, 'beheld God and Nature face to face; we, through their...also enjoy an original relation to the Universe?' And again, 'In the soul let redemption be sought. Refuse the good models, even those which are sacred...

...the city of God which had been shown! (This passage presumably refers to a spot in the Introduction: "The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face: we, through their eyes." And at that point, of course, one might turn aside to mention the favored role of eye-imagery in Emerson's...

...perfect is come," then we shall see "face to face" (i Cor. 13:10, 12). Emerson, however, argues that "the foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we through their eyes," and asks "Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe?"53 The prophet of the...