People
The measure of a master is his success in bringing all men round to his opinion 20 years later.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker measures mastery by influence that becomes visible twenty years later. Success lies in eventually bringing others around to an opinion, rather than winning immediate agreement. The long delay gives the claim its emphasis: a powerful idea may take time to establish its reach.
Context reviewed