...biographies, histories, and criticism. The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face-to-face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy...the universe? Why should not we have a poetry and a philosophy of insight and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and not the history...

...sepulchres of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticism. The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their...also enjoy an original relation to the universe?" The need was great for a direct, unmediated experience of the divine: "Why should not we have a poetry...

...Emerson began. "It writes biographies, histories, and criticism. The foregoing generations beheld God face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not...also enjoy an original relation to the universe?" At the end, mounting higher, he had "a certain poet" sing out for him, '"A man is a god in ruins,'"...

...sepulchres of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories and criticism. The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original insight and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and not the history of theirs?24...

...enters by a private door into every individual" (from "Intellect") and then "The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their...also enjoy an original relation to the universe?" (from Nature). They heard each of these, blinking, and all remained silent when I asked for comments....

...in revolutionary fashion: "Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchres of the fathers . . . Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe?" And so, "Let us demand our own works and laws and worship." Turning his back on tradition, Emerson...