A collection of essays by American philosopher and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, Representative Men explores the lives and works of some of history's most influential figures, including Plato, Shakespeare, and Napoleon. Drawing on his own keen insights and vast knowledge, Emerson offers a unique perspective on these thinkers and their legacies, and challenges readers to reconsider their own assumptions about greatness and achievement. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.