Wisdom from the Concord Sage

Thanks also to all those who have supported the Urbanmonks Thinktank in 2014.  On to a great new year!  Lots of exciting projects and books coming out in 2015. 

On this New Year's Eve, let me give thanks to all those who have worked and are working to improve the emotional health of our culture, and by that I also mean our cultures - the culture of our relationships, the culture of our families, the culture of our neighborhoods, our villages, and our cities.

Here is a great quote from one of the great American philosopher writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, who has remained a continuing influence in American society, though often below the radar.  He helped inspire both Thoreau and Whitman.   The peak of his cultural influence in the United States was during 1830s-1840s. 

This quote is as valuable now as it ever has been.  Wisdom, right here.  But I tell you, if you want to really know a quote, you got to write it down somewhere, carry it with you in your wallet for a week or two. 

Wisdom quotes have layers.  It's a lesson, in a sentence.  Amazing. 

So without further ado, this was Emerson, dropping knowledge many generations ago. 

What lies behind us and what lies before us
are small matters compared to what lies within us.

United States stamp, 1940.

Part Thoreau. Part Franklin.

A few updates: 

I.  Please stop by the Urbanmonks Store 

Imagine coming across a nice young fellow selling from his hand-made wooden cart.  

As you approach the colorful wooden cart, you realize that this is not a hot dog cart, this is a book cart!  You feel like stepping out of the rush of your day to peruse the first round of titles - a book about mentors, a book about the healing spices of chai, and a book about the future of book stores. 

Well I do hope to see you at the cart in person someday.  Probably next spring at this point, for this chilly, rainy weather has all but shut us down for the season.  But alas, we built a small street cart that you can visit as you wander down the boulevard of the internet. ( - store portal - )

II.

Never, ever forget:  
A good wander can refresh the spirit
in a way that few things can.   

III.

Slogan brainstorm: 

Urbanmonks Thinktank.  
Part Thoreau.  Part Franklin. 

IV.

New book I am producing:  The Weather of the Mind.  This will be the first Urbanmonks' workbook and will be Book One of the Urbanmonks educational curriculum.  If you are interested in trying out an early draft of the workbook and providing some feedback, please drop me a line here.

Keep living and learning, one day at a time,

Doug