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Essays — Second Series
Essays — Second Series

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Essays — Second Series is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Essays — Second Series
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.
The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.
Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.
All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.
The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Essays — Second Series

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Essays — Second Series is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.
/ðɪs ɪz ə ˈnætʃərəl ˈpaʊər laɪk laɪt ənd hiːt ənd ɔːl ˈneɪtʃər koʊˈɑːpəreɪts wɪð ɪt/
Line 2
The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.
Line 3
Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.
/truːθ ɪz ðə ˈsʌmət ʌv ˈbiːɪŋ ˈdʒʌstəs ɪz ðə ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən ʌv ɪt tuː əˈferz/
Line 4
All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.
/ɔːl ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒəwəl ˈneɪtʃərz stænd ɪn ə skeɪl əˈkɔːrdɪŋ tuː ðə ˈpjʊrəti ʌv ðɪs ˈeləmənt ɪn ðem/
Line 5
The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.
/ðə wɪl ʌv ðə pjʊr rʌnz daʊn frʌm ðem ˈɪntuː ˈʌðər ˈneɪtʃərz æz ˈwɔːtər rʌnz daʊn frʌm ə ˈhaɪər ˈɪntuː ə ˈloʊər ˈvesəl/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

application noun US /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/

the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose

From this reading “Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.”

cooperates verb US /koʊˈɑːpəreɪts/

third-person singular of “cooperate” — work together on a common enterprise of project

From this reading “This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.”

element noun US /ˈeləmənt/

an abstract part of something

From this reading “All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.”

gravity noun US /ˈɡrævəti/

(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

From this reading “The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.”

natures noun US /ˈneɪtʃərz/

plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading “All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.”

purity noun US /ˈpjʊrəti/

being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material

From this reading “All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.”

scale noun US /skeɪl/

an ordered reference standard

From this reading “All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.”

summit noun US /ˈsʌmət/

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

From this reading “Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.”

All words in this reading · 56

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

affairsnounUS /əˈferz/

matters of personal concern

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

another's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/

the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

cooperatesverbUS /koʊˈɑːpəreɪts/

third-person singular of “cooperate” — work together on a common enterprise of project

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/

an abstract part of something

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/

(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

heatnounUS /hiːt/

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

higheradjectiveUS /ˈhaɪər/

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

individualadjectiveUS /ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒəwəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

justicenounUS /ˈdʒʌstəs/

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

naturesnounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/

plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

pureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

puritynounUS /ˈpjʊrəti/

being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

runsnounUS /rʌnz/

plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

scalenounUS /skeɪl/

an ordered reference standard

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading All individual natures stand in a scale, according to the purity of this element in them.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

TruthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.

vesselnounUS /ˈvesəl/

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading The reason why we feel one man's presence and do not feel another's is as simple as gravity.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The will of the pure runs down from them into other natures as water runs down from a higher into a lower vessel.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading This is a natural power, like light and heat, and all nature cooperates with it.

Chapter 7 of Essays — Second Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson holds 140 sentences, grouped into 28 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 7 of Essays — Second Series contain?

Chapter 7 holds 140 sentences of Essays — Second Series, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Essays — Second Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 140 sentences, grouped into 28 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 7 of Essays — Second Series?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Essays — Second Series

Common questions about reading Essays — Second Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Essays — Second Series?

Yes. All 2456 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2945 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Essays — Second Series is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2945, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Essays — Second Series take to read?

About 204 minutes of reading across 492 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Essays — Second Series section by section

How to work through Essays — Second Series section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Essays — Second Series to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Essays — Second Series

Words and structures a reader meets early in Essays — Second Series, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Moody
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays — Second Series; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Child
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays — Second Series; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wildly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays — Second Series; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pursued
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays — Second Series; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.