A small potted seedling with a gold ribbon medal on its stem, alone on a dark chair seat.

Original artwork, not a still

Society and Solitude

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Self-trust is the first secret of success.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Trust in oneself is placed before other explanations of success. Calling it the first secret suggests a foundation from which action can begin, rather than a complete recipe for achieving every goal. The emphasis falls on confidence in one’s own capacity to proceed.

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