infinity When the scholar studies Nature he understands his own spirit For Emerson Nature connects man with God It opens the mind to wisdom and fills the heart with divine inspiration Influence of Books The second great influence is Books or what Emerson calls the mind of the past Books preserve the thoughts of great men and inspire the present age Emerson says Books are the best of things well used abused among the worst A true scholar reads books not to copy but to awaken his own thinking He accepts only what is true and rejects what is false Books give knowledge but they must serve as a guide not as a master Right Use of Books Emerson warns against the blind worship of books He says that people often love the book more than the truth inside it They become the parrot of other men s thinking The scholar must read with freedom and originality He must think for himself and write for his own time Emerson adds Each age it is found must write its own books or rather each generation for the next succeeding Thus books should inspire new ideas not imprison the mind Influence of Action The third significant influence is Action Emerson believes that a scholar must not only think but also act Experience gives depth to knowledge He says Experience is converted into thought Through work travel and social life the scholar comes to understand the complexities of human nature Action gives him the raw material for reflection and writing It also teaches courage sympathy and wisdom Emerson believes that only through real experience can a scholar understand life and express it in words Harmony of Thought and Experience Emerson seeks a balance between thought and action He says that the final value of action is that it can cause thought Just as day and night follow each other thought and action must move together The scholar must learn from books and Nature but also live among people and share their struggles By joining mind and deed the scholar becomes strong wise and human Emerson believes that this harmony leads to spiritual and national progress In summary Emerson shows that Nature Books and Action are the three pillars of education Nature teaches truth and unity Books give wisdom of the past and Action turns knowledge into power Together they make the scholar both thinker and doer Emerson s message is clear The true scholar must live a full active and original life to serve mankind and his nation