Theos-Talk Archives (January 1995 Message tl00125)

Although this quote from Emerson's "Over-Soul" essay may apply
more to face-to-face discussions, it may touch on Theos-l as
well.-- Nicholas

Persons are supplementary to the primary teaching of the soul.
In youth we are mad for persons.  Childhood and youth see all the
world in them.  But the larger experience of man discovers the
identical nature appearing through them all.  Persons themselves
acquaint us with the impersonal.  In all conversations between
two persons tacit reference is made, as to a third party, to a
common nature.  That third party or common nature is not social;
it is impersonal; is God.  And so in groups where debate is
earnest, and especially on high questions, the company become
aware that the thought rises to an equal level in all bosoms,
that all have a spiritual property in what was said, as well as
the sayer.  They all become wiser than they were.  It arches over
them like a temple, this unity of thought in which every heart
beats with a nobler sense of power and duty, and thinks and acts
with unusual solemnity.  All are conscious of attaining to a
higher self-possession.  It shines for all...  The mind is one,
and the best minds, who love truth for its own sake, think much
less of property in truth.  They accept it thankfully everywhere,
and do not label or stamp it with any man's name, for it is
theirs long beforehand, and from eternity.