Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. Although known as a founder of the transcendentalist movement, nineteenth-century Unitarian minister Ralph Waldo Emerson actually considered his own philosophical investigations idealism, the belief that humankind should reject experience and materialism in favor of intuition, inspiration, and spiritual awakening.  Emerson and the New England transcendentalist movement helped define American culture. Contents: Elements and Mottos:  EXPERIENCE COMPENSATION POLITICS HEROISM CHARACTER CULTURE FRIENDSHIP SPIRITUAL LAWS BEAUTY MANNERS ART UNITY WORSHIP PRUDENCE NATURE THE INFORMING SPIRIT CIRCLES INTELLECT GIFTS PROMISE CARITAS POWER WEALTH ILLUSIONS