Emerson's aphorism: “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” What does he mean? What is he trying to say?
1 Answer
All moments are great moments to get out and do something, to create beauty, to live life, to do the things we want to do. The only hard part is to know what to do with that moment.
Explanation:
Have you ever had the experience where you want to do something but "it's just not the right time"? I've certainly said that to myself countless times over the course of my life - whether it was trying to fix the date of for a wedding, deciding if I should have kids, even as a teen thinking about asking someone on a date or even trying to time a good time to approach a teacher to ask for help. Every single time I used the phrase, the moment passed, the opportunity in that moment lost.
Emerson is saying that there is nothing special about this moment or that moment - all moments are great moments to get out and do something, to create beauty, to live life, to do the things we want to do. The only hard part is to know what to do with that moment. Because if we fret that moment away trying to figure out what we should do with it or deciding if it's a good moment to do something seemingly hard or difficult, the moment disappears - it's wasted and gone and will never come back.
This follows along with the themes he liked to write and comment about. Quotes like:
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
and
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
show that he is interested in seeing people take charge of their lives and live them to the fullest.
