Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
Genuine
Yes. In Essays: First Series (1841), Essay II, “Self-Reliance”.
Found word for word by program in the full text.
- Work
- Essays: First Series (Essays), 1841
- Where
- Essay II, “Self-Reliance”
- Found at
- Paragraph 115 of the text
Researched by AI; checked by program against the full text on 31 October 2026. Editorial review: pending. How we check
On the page
[…] He who knows that power is inborn, that he is weak because he has looked for good out of him and elsewhere, and so perceiving, throws himself unhesitatingly on his thought, instantly rights himself, stands in the erect position, commands his limbs, works miracles; just as a man who stands on his feet is stronger than a man who stands on his head.
So use all that is called Fortune. Most men gamble with her, and gain all, and lose all, as her wheel rolls. But do thou leave as unlawful these winnings, and deal with Cause and Effect, the chancellors of God. In the Will work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance, and shalt sit hereafter out of fear from her rotations. A political victory, a rise of rents, the recovery of your sick or the return of your absent friend, or some other favorable event raises your spirits, and you think good days are preparing for you. Do not believe it. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.
The scene
These are the last sentences of the essay. Emerson has just told the reader to deal with Cause and Effect instead of gambling with Fortune, and now warns that good luck of any kind (a political win, higher rents, a recovery, a friend’s return) will not settle the mind.
What it means
Outside events cannot give lasting peace; it comes from yourself, and in the end from living by principle.
Often misread
The first sentence is often printed alone as a calm-yourself slogan. Emerson repeats it with a different ending: “Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” Peace is tied to principle, not to simply looking inward.
Topics
Related quotes
- Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.
- If it is not right, do not do it: if it is not true, do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
- Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life. Epictetus
- Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. (not found) Dr. Seuss
- Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love. J. K. Rowling
Cite it
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series (1841), Essay II, “Self-Reliance”. Checked at Quotogeny, https://quotogeny.com/q/nothing-can-bring-you-peace-but-yourself/ (31 October 2026).
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Checked by people
People who checked this entry against its source, under their own names. Their checks do not change the verdict: an editor reviews every entry.
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