Who said “It is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourselves.”?

Verified

Ralph Waldo Emerson. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceJournals (1822–1863), May 3, 1845

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For academic work, cite the original where you can: Journals (1822–1863), May 3, 1845.

APA

Emerson, R. W. (n.d.). It is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourselves. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37115-it-is-easy-to-live-for-others-everybody/

MLA

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “It is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourselves.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37115-it-is-easy-to-live-for-others-everybody/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “It is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourselves.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37115-it-is-easy-to-live-for-others-everybody/.

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