“The thing done avails, and not…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The thing done avails, and not what is said about it. An original sentence, a step forward, is worth more than all the censures.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), English Traits (1856), First Visit to England

Ambition and achievement

What it means

What we actually accomplish counts for more than what people say about it. One genuine step forward outweighs any amount of criticism.

Ralph Waldo Emerson — American philosopher (1803–1882).

Source: English Traits (1856), First Visit to England
Reference: Ralph Waldo Emerson on Wikiquote
Checked: Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright: Public domain: the author died in 1882.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.

“Restlessness is discontent — and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man — and I will show you a failure.”

Thomas Edison

“Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value.”

Albert Einstein

“It is not possible to run a course aright when the goal itself has not been rightly placed.”

Francis Bacon