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Compensation
Excerpt from Emerson's Essay on CompensationThese thoughts on government, religion, and art alike, are colored by democracy. The exclusive in fashionable life does not see that he excludes himself from enjoyment, in the attempt to appropriate it. The exclusionist in religion does not see that he shuts the door of heaven on himself in striving to shut out others. The best part of a writer has nothing pri vate in it.
53 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1841
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457 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Waldo Emerson
3,422 books5,367 followersRalph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston in 1803. Educated at Harvard and the Cambridge Divinity School, he became a Unitarian minister in 1826 at the Second Church Unitarian. The congregation, with Christian overtones, issued communion, something Emerson refused to do. "Really, it is beyond my comprehension," Emerson once said, when asked by a seminary professor whether he believed in God. (Quoted in 2,000 Years of Freethought edited by Jim Haught.) By 1832, after the untimely death of his first wife, Emerson cut loose from Unitarianism. During a year-long trip to Europe, Emerson became acquainted with such intelligentsia as British writer Thomas Carlyle, and poets Wordsworth and Coleridge. He returned to the United States in 1833, to a life as poet, writer and lecturer. Emerson inspired Transcendentalism, although never adopting the label himself. He rejected traditional ideas of deity in favor of an "Over-Soul" or "Form of Good," ideas which were considered highly heretical. His books include Nature (1836), The American Scholar (1837), Divinity School Address (1838), Essays, 2 vol. (1841, 1844), Nature, Addresses and Lectures (1849), and three volumes of poetry. Margaret Fuller became one of his "disciples," as did Henry David Thoreau.
The best of Emerson's rather wordy writing survives as epigrams, such as the famous: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." Other one- (and two-) liners include: "As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect" (Self-Reliance, 1841). "The most tedious of all discourses are on the subject of the Supreme Being" (Journal, 1836). "The word miracle, as pronounced by Christian churches, gives a false impression; it is a monster. It is not one with the blowing clover and the falling rain" (Address to Harvard Divinity College, July 15, 1838). He demolished the right wing hypocrites of his era in his essay "Worship": ". . . the louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons" (Conduct of Life, 1860). "I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit, to get knowledge by raps on midnight tables, to learn the economy of the mind by phrenology, or skill without study, or mastery without apprenticeship" (Self-Reliance). "The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It puts an affront upon nature" (English Traits , 1856). "The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant." (Civilization, 1862). He influenced generations of Americans, from his friend Henry David Thoreau to John Dewey, and in Europe, Friedrich Nietzsche, who takes up such Emersonian themes as power, fate, the uses of poetry and history, and the critique of Christianity. D. 1882.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was his son and Waldo Emerson Forbes, his grandson.
The best of Emerson's rather wordy writing survives as epigrams, such as the famous: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." Other one- (and two-) liners include: "As men's prayers are a disease of the will, so are their creeds a disease of the intellect" (Self-Reliance, 1841). "The most tedious of all discourses are on the subject of the Supreme Being" (Journal, 1836). "The word miracle, as pronounced by Christian churches, gives a false impression; it is a monster. It is not one with the blowing clover and the falling rain" (Address to Harvard Divinity College, July 15, 1838). He demolished the right wing hypocrites of his era in his essay "Worship": ". . . the louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons" (Conduct of Life, 1860). "I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit, to get knowledge by raps on midnight tables, to learn the economy of the mind by phrenology, or skill without study, or mastery without apprenticeship" (Self-Reliance). "The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It puts an affront upon nature" (English Traits , 1856). "The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant." (Civilization, 1862). He influenced generations of Americans, from his friend Henry David Thoreau to John Dewey, and in Europe, Friedrich Nietzsche, who takes up such Emersonian themes as power, fate, the uses of poetry and history, and the critique of Christianity. D. 1882.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was his son and Waldo Emerson Forbes, his grandson.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 5, 2022
I have read this several times and plan to continue to do so as a reminder of how I ideally want to behave around all humans. I even made an audible version of this on my Odysee channel. I keep this essay in mind as I pause before a yoga class, a group meeting, while waiting patiently in line at the grocery store and silently pray for everyone else around to receive healing abundance, true care, wisdom and peace profound as they go about their day. And I wish the same now for whoever may be reading this review. The divine in me recognizes and salutes the divine in you.
March 2, 2019
It's an american version for understanding law of karma, and duality of things. I liked the insights and depth of content. Whatever, I developed a liking for Emerson's essays.
August 9, 2020
I read this in preparation for the play Richard III. Goddard's masterful treatment of the play pointed me to this essay. I'm not much of a reader of essays but I'm learning to appreciate them. This is a quintessential piece by a transcendentalist. He offers logical arguments, even scientific observations, and human experience to back up his claims. His reasoning based on nature illustrates unity in creation: what we observe in nature can apply to the idea of compensation. He does not deny the spiritual world and does not divorce it from the material. He believes in a divine being, God, but not necessarily the one we read about in the Bible.
Here is my summary: God baked karma into the cake. We are compensated in one way or another by the natural world for the good or the evil that we do. It is inescapable so waiting for Judgement Day is not necessary. He does admit that some times the hand of Compensation takes a long time to reveal itself. Follow the golden rule and it will take care of you.
He wrote a paragraph about the mob and riots and I saved it as a quote. It applies to what we are seeing today!
Finally, I've summarized the essay and simplistic terms. My original purpose was to apply it to Richard III. Compensation was quite busy, not just during the War of the Roses but in the events which lead to it. Transition from one leader to another is a challenge unless there is an established process. In England, it was the order of succession and, when that is violated, Compensation steps in to right matters.
* Richard II began with promise but surrounded himself with young artsy types who puffed up his ego. He stopped listening to voices with experience and he set himself against his uncle John of Gaunt and his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. He drank the divine-right-of-kings Koolaid and did not see anything wrong with banishing Henry and then disinheriting him of his land and wealth because of the banishment. He could have handled it better and Henry made him pay dearly
* Henry IV (Bolingbroke) took advantage of the youth of the next in line. Richard II had no heirs so succession fell to Lionel's line. He had one daughter and her eldest son was a boy. Henry IV had enough to treat the boy well, although he kept him close. It was the Mortimer family (his kin) that rebelled against Henry and created turmoil. Ironically, the true heir was absolutely loyal to Henry IV and Henry V. Since he refused to take what was rightfully his, Compensation cut his life short before he could have heirs.
* Succession fell to the sister Anne Mortimer and she married the son of Edmund (John of Gaunt's younger brother). Their son Richard of York still smarted over the usurpation of his rights. England ended up with another boy king Henry VI who would have made a better cleric or abbot than a king. He married a queen who fiercely protected the rights of their son when the king was in his right mind and when he was insane. Her quest leds to the death of her king and their son and she lives the rest of her life in France with a lot of "what ifs" running through her head. Compensation was not good to Margaret.
* Richard of York sets things up so that his eldest son Edward IV finally becomes king. Compensation does not grant the crown to Richard perhaps because of the blood on his hands.
* Edward IV is crowned and technically he is the rightful heir according to succession. However,
he makes a mess of things in his secret marriage, not only to commoner, but a widow with boys and brothers. People resent all the new titles and scrambling that goes into making his wife happy. They have three children, a daughter and two sons. Edward did not take care of himself and he dies, leaving yet another boy king. If something happened to the boy, there is still a younger brother and an older sister. Compensation seems to have secured a clear path.
* Richard III is murky. Since my goal is to study the character in the play, I will set aside questions about the real person. We know that his hunchback was an extreme exaggeration of a case of scoliosis as shown in the bones dug up a few years ago. I have not decided who was the real villain (him or Henry Tudor). There are a lot of good arguments either way.
* The bard's Richard III begins to calculate. He tests his power by wooing the widow of Henry VI's son and they marry. Drunk with belief in his own power he clears his older brother Clarence off the board through miscommunication and bad timing. This happened before Edward IV died and Richard kept his hands clean. If he can have the two princes killed off, he can become king. He hesitates because having children killed is more offensive than killing his waffling brother (Clarence). He finds a cutthroat with an appetite for gold and he becomes the king. In fact, he behaves a lot like Julius Caesar in making himself look like he does not really want the crown. His wife is so miserable she dies and now to secure his shaky hold on the crown he makes plans to marry the eldest sister of the two princes. Compensation says, "Hold my beer."
* Henry V's French wife did something unthinkable after his death. She marries a Welshman Owen Tudor, who is an early casualty of the War of the Roses. Their son Edmund is smarter and he marries a descendant of John of Gaunt but he too dies in the war. Mom whisks of her son Henry Tudor away from the action. Who can blame her with princes disappearing in towers. When the time is right, he shows up after Richard dies and gets to be magnanimous. He, of the House of Lancaster, marries the eldest sister, of the House of York, and peace is sealed with a Tudor rose. Even though he is not the true heir, he calls himself King Henry VII and their children, because of the Queen, are true heirs. Compensation restored order to the line of succession but never really ends the bloodshed because we humans are what we are.
Here is my summary: God baked karma into the cake. We are compensated in one way or another by the natural world for the good or the evil that we do. It is inescapable so waiting for Judgement Day is not necessary. He does admit that some times the hand of Compensation takes a long time to reveal itself. Follow the golden rule and it will take care of you.
He wrote a paragraph about the mob and riots and I saved it as a quote. It applies to what we are seeing today!
Finally, I've summarized the essay and simplistic terms. My original purpose was to apply it to Richard III. Compensation was quite busy, not just during the War of the Roses but in the events which lead to it. Transition from one leader to another is a challenge unless there is an established process. In England, it was the order of succession and, when that is violated, Compensation steps in to right matters.
* Richard II began with promise but surrounded himself with young artsy types who puffed up his ego. He stopped listening to voices with experience and he set himself against his uncle John of Gaunt and his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. He drank the divine-right-of-kings Koolaid and did not see anything wrong with banishing Henry and then disinheriting him of his land and wealth because of the banishment. He could have handled it better and Henry made him pay dearly
* Henry IV (Bolingbroke) took advantage of the youth of the next in line. Richard II had no heirs so succession fell to Lionel's line. He had one daughter and her eldest son was a boy. Henry IV had enough to treat the boy well, although he kept him close. It was the Mortimer family (his kin) that rebelled against Henry and created turmoil. Ironically, the true heir was absolutely loyal to Henry IV and Henry V. Since he refused to take what was rightfully his, Compensation cut his life short before he could have heirs.
* Succession fell to the sister Anne Mortimer and she married the son of Edmund (John of Gaunt's younger brother). Their son Richard of York still smarted over the usurpation of his rights. England ended up with another boy king Henry VI who would have made a better cleric or abbot than a king. He married a queen who fiercely protected the rights of their son when the king was in his right mind and when he was insane. Her quest leds to the death of her king and their son and she lives the rest of her life in France with a lot of "what ifs" running through her head. Compensation was not good to Margaret.
* Richard of York sets things up so that his eldest son Edward IV finally becomes king. Compensation does not grant the crown to Richard perhaps because of the blood on his hands.
* Edward IV is crowned and technically he is the rightful heir according to succession. However,
he makes a mess of things in his secret marriage, not only to commoner, but a widow with boys and brothers. People resent all the new titles and scrambling that goes into making his wife happy. They have three children, a daughter and two sons. Edward did not take care of himself and he dies, leaving yet another boy king. If something happened to the boy, there is still a younger brother and an older sister. Compensation seems to have secured a clear path.
* Richard III is murky. Since my goal is to study the character in the play, I will set aside questions about the real person. We know that his hunchback was an extreme exaggeration of a case of scoliosis as shown in the bones dug up a few years ago. I have not decided who was the real villain (him or Henry Tudor). There are a lot of good arguments either way.
* The bard's Richard III begins to calculate. He tests his power by wooing the widow of Henry VI's son and they marry. Drunk with belief in his own power he clears his older brother Clarence off the board through miscommunication and bad timing. This happened before Edward IV died and Richard kept his hands clean. If he can have the two princes killed off, he can become king. He hesitates because having children killed is more offensive than killing his waffling brother (Clarence). He finds a cutthroat with an appetite for gold and he becomes the king. In fact, he behaves a lot like Julius Caesar in making himself look like he does not really want the crown. His wife is so miserable she dies and now to secure his shaky hold on the crown he makes plans to marry the eldest sister of the two princes. Compensation says, "Hold my beer."
* Henry V's French wife did something unthinkable after his death. She marries a Welshman Owen Tudor, who is an early casualty of the War of the Roses. Their son Edmund is smarter and he marries a descendant of John of Gaunt but he too dies in the war. Mom whisks of her son Henry Tudor away from the action. Who can blame her with princes disappearing in towers. When the time is right, he shows up after Richard dies and gets to be magnanimous. He, of the House of Lancaster, marries the eldest sister, of the House of York, and peace is sealed with a Tudor rose. Even though he is not the true heir, he calls himself King Henry VII and their children, because of the Queen, are true heirs. Compensation restored order to the line of succession but never really ends the bloodshed because we humans are what we are.
November 29, 2022
Shut up about my mouse. :-)🦉
May 7, 2020
“There is a deeper fact in the soul than compensation, to wit, its own nature. The soul is not a compensation, but a life. The soul is. Under all this running sea of circumstance, whose waters ebb and flow with perfect balance, lies the aboriginal abyss of real Being. Essence, or God, is not a relation or a part, but the whole.”
This was an enlightening read about compensation, the laws in which the universe operates. Of course I loved it. It’s Emerson! Fantastic as always.
This was an enlightening read about compensation, the laws in which the universe operates. Of course I loved it. It’s Emerson! Fantastic as always.
October 30, 2017
Fantastic essay about consequences and actions. More people need to read this.
November 24, 2018
Amazing book!! Quick read, it teaches you the value of not judging anyone or anything, something we lack in our societies now.
October 7, 2018
Interesting essay
Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest of reads. Yet there is a lot of value to be found here. Mostly his thoughts on compensation and how that relates to work. I summary, you will always be paid what you are worth and for what you do. However, you give up a lot in order to receive that compensation.
Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest of reads. Yet there is a lot of value to be found here. Mostly his thoughts on compensation and how that relates to work. I summary, you will always be paid what you are worth and for what you do. However, you give up a lot in order to receive that compensation.
May 6, 2020
Emerson is writing about the law of Karma or of Cause and Effect. Everywhere in nature there is dualism in balance with cause and effect. Dualism is present with us because it balances life instead of having excess to destroy. Napoleon Hill quotes often from this essay in his writings on performing more service than paid for is always virtuous and good.
January 15, 2019
Inspiring
A quick essay on one of the natural laws: compensation. Everything that we do has a consequence and there is no right without wrong, no light without dark. If we understand this, we will be in a better position to direct our lives to whichever ends we desire
A quick essay on one of the natural laws: compensation. Everything that we do has a consequence and there is no right without wrong, no light without dark. If we understand this, we will be in a better position to direct our lives to whichever ends we desire
November 15, 2023
It seems to me Emerson's inspiration for the piece was a sermon thought by him to be to some degree inadequately fashioned.
Specifically, the talk condemned sinners (as a sermon normally might), however, in each speaker of the church there is a capacity for freedom of interpretation and this speaker sought to conflate indulgence with sinning - a notion that seems contradictory to Emerson.
In short, if indulgence is sinning, then one who seeks heaven would live a life of abstinence. But for what purpose is to seek heaven other than to achieve a form of indulgence, the highest form of indulgence?
This point is a good one. The rest of the essay is a very well elaborated tangent with no shortage of examples.
Specifically, the talk condemned sinners (as a sermon normally might), however, in each speaker of the church there is a capacity for freedom of interpretation and this speaker sought to conflate indulgence with sinning - a notion that seems contradictory to Emerson.
In short, if indulgence is sinning, then one who seeks heaven would live a life of abstinence. But for what purpose is to seek heaven other than to achieve a form of indulgence, the highest form of indulgence?
This point is a good one. The rest of the essay is a very well elaborated tangent with no shortage of examples.
January 23, 2024
Well the title really does say it all. This essay really does go into a whole discussion on the topic of compensation. It was a bit of a dissatisfying read considering it has been used as a reference by multiple best selling authors.
Now I may have missed the point entirely but I felt it read in a nutshell, anyone who is happy now will inevitably be miserable later. With the good will later come the bad and vice versa.
If you want to be compensated by good you must suffer now. No talk of balance, or that happiness is a state of balance, but a whole lot of detailed metaphors of compensation.
I’m glad I’ve read it once and fortunately it was short or I probably wouldn’t have made it to the end, but I’m doubtful I’ll read it again.
Now I may have missed the point entirely but I felt it read in a nutshell, anyone who is happy now will inevitably be miserable later. With the good will later come the bad and vice versa.
If you want to be compensated by good you must suffer now. No talk of balance, or that happiness is a state of balance, but a whole lot of detailed metaphors of compensation.
I’m glad I’ve read it once and fortunately it was short or I probably wouldn’t have made it to the end, but I’m doubtful I’ll read it again.
July 25, 2024
Amazing read by an author I would always see quoted. It’s from the 1800’s so it’s sometimes hard to follow but it’s short so that makes up for it. Like 30 pages.
What I think is great about this essay is that it makes an argument for morality, karma, and having a great attitude. Emerson focuses a lot on duality; how every disadvantage has its advantage. How every wrong committed will be seen by nature and how every good we do will be repaid in kind- especially the longer we wait!
This book reminds me to do more, that “he is great who confers the most benefits”. There is no envy to a great man, because he has to take care of thousands of people. This essay reminds me to give more than I get. It makes me want to be a better man, and I think that’s worth at least 5 stars.
What I think is great about this essay is that it makes an argument for morality, karma, and having a great attitude. Emerson focuses a lot on duality; how every disadvantage has its advantage. How every wrong committed will be seen by nature and how every good we do will be repaid in kind- especially the longer we wait!
This book reminds me to do more, that “he is great who confers the most benefits”. There is no envy to a great man, because he has to take care of thousands of people. This essay reminds me to give more than I get. It makes me want to be a better man, and I think that’s worth at least 5 stars.
June 18, 2021
Splendid reaction to sermon about the sacrifices in human life rewarded in the religious afterlife.
Emerson does not think that is the way to think about life and this short work
give us his perspective on how to think about the vagaries of life.
. . . harm watch, harm catch. . . .
curses always recoil on the head of who imprecates (utters) them.
If you put a chain around the neck of a slave the other end imprisons you
The highest price for a thing is to ask for it.
There can be excess (surplus, overload, etc.) to love; noe to knowledge;, none to beauty, when these attributes are considered in the purest sense.
Emerson does not think that is the way to think about life and this short work
give us his perspective on how to think about the vagaries of life.
. . . harm watch, harm catch. . . .
curses always recoil on the head of who imprecates (utters) them.
If you put a chain around the neck of a slave the other end imprisons you
The highest price for a thing is to ask for it.
There can be excess (surplus, overload, etc.) to love; noe to knowledge;, none to beauty, when these attributes are considered in the purest sense.
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September 11, 2024Quran: Chapter 2, Verse 178
You who believe, compensation for the murdered victim has been prescribed for you: the freeman for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. Anyone who is pardoned in any way for it by his brother should follow this up appropriately, and handsomely make amends with him; that means a lightening as well as mercy from your Lord. Anyone who exceeds the limit after that shall have painful torment. You will find life in such compensation, O prudent persons, so that you may do your duty.
You who believe, compensation for the murdered victim has been prescribed for you: the freeman for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. Anyone who is pardoned in any way for it by his brother should follow this up appropriately, and handsomely make amends with him; that means a lightening as well as mercy from your Lord. Anyone who exceeds the limit after that shall have painful torment. You will find life in such compensation, O prudent persons, so that you may do your duty.
October 30, 2025
Equilibrium!
In Compensation, Ralph Waldo Emerson reflects on the natural balance that exists in all aspects of life, arguing that every gain carries a cost and every loss holds the seeds of potential return. Written in Emerson’s signature transcendentalist style, the essay is rich with poetic language and philosophical insight, encouraging readers to trust in the moral order of the universe. It emphasizes that life is self-correcting, and the character we cultivate inwardly ultimately shapes what we experience outwardly. A brief and reflective read!
In Compensation, Ralph Waldo Emerson reflects on the natural balance that exists in all aspects of life, arguing that every gain carries a cost and every loss holds the seeds of potential return. Written in Emerson’s signature transcendentalist style, the essay is rich with poetic language and philosophical insight, encouraging readers to trust in the moral order of the universe. It emphasizes that life is self-correcting, and the character we cultivate inwardly ultimately shapes what we experience outwardly. A brief and reflective read!
September 27, 2024
It's a beautiful and philosophical essay about compensation in everything - for every act, for every happening and event. It is about duality in life, and it encourages the reader to be more open and accepting of how just life is. I really like Emerson's thoughts and essays, so touching, so divine.
June 16, 2019
Very similar to Hill's chapter on the Cosmic Habit force. Simple illustrates the well known Golden rule
September 2, 2019
great message.
February 25, 2021
Another Ralph Waldo Emerson essay in which more banging on is achieved. Again some interesting points, butIam not sure how much I will recall in due course.
June 27, 2023
Karma is in fact a force that creates optimism.
October 28, 2024
Kind of vague book wich i didn’t understand much of
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November 12, 2025audiobook - would like to read as a hard copy to take it in better. enjoyed the reminder on the duality of nature and reciprocity
September 28, 2012
I first read this essay when I was either my senior year in high school or freshman in collage. It knocked me out. The concepts presented in emerson's essay rang true 40 some years ago and as I have revisited this essay many times since, I have found it to continue to describe the truth of compensation in this life. This law of truth can be observed from many sources, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, we must know the bitter to understand the sweet, where much is given much is expected, when we are given a weakness in character, physicality, or situation in life there is a compensating strength that can be developed not in spite of, but frequently because of that weakness. Emerson explores and reviews in depth all of the elements of compensation...there are pieces of this work that are masterful and remarkable. This is definitely a must read!
August 2, 2013
I love Emerson's way with words. This discourse on the laws of compensation eloquently illustrates that each has it's opposite in the universe. Balance must be met out to create order, else all would be chaos. He challenges the reader to prove herewith God's law of promise and faith that whatsoever a man reaps, he shall sow.
July 12, 2015
Great. great, great essay. As I was reading this, I was so astounded by the depth and level of insight that Emerson had to say. I truly believe Compensation is a natural and universal law because it's been stated so many times and in so many different ways. Because of this, I wrote a post on it because I was so inspired.
http://bit.ly/compensationemerson
http://bit.ly/compensationemerson
February 18, 2020
Emerson ei ole ajattelija minua varten eikä hänen tapansa käsitellä asiaansa ole kovin koskettava tai edes kiehtova (monellakaan tapaa), mutta jotain kiinnostavaa hänen ajattelussaan siltikin on. En osaa tarkalleen sanoa mitä. En usko lukevani häneltä enää paljoa muuta.
January 2, 2023
Great book, always enjoy thinking of everyday applied perception of author 's essays
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews