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A core idea in both Romanticism and Transcendentalism, the sublime refers to an experience of intense, overwhelming emotion that transcends the mundane (i.e., the earthly world). In “Nature,” Emerson suggests that nature produces such a state—enjoying solitude in nature separates a person from their normal, day-to-day life, and nature’s unearthly, divine beauty is profoundly moving.
Sublime Quotes in Nature
The Nature quotes below are all either spoken by Sublime or refer to Sublime. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1: Nature
Quotes
But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and vulgar things. One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime. Seen in the streets of cities, how great they are! If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these preachers of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.
The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence.
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Get the entire Nature LitChart as a printable PDF.
Sublime Term Timeline in Nature
The timeline below shows where the term Sublime appears in Nature. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: Nature
...the stars—it will allow them to temporarily transcend their day-to-day lives and connect with the sublime. Since the stars shine nearly every night, people take their beauty for granted. But a...
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