evidence: This quotation is especially beloved by coaches, valedictorians, eulogists, and Oprah Winfrey. It usually gets attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. No evidence can be found that Emerson said or wrote these words. [...] With all the philosopher’s play of wit and diversity he never weakens his major emphasis: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Or, as quoted by Mr. Nock in the foreword, "It is the brain which does the thinking, not the thought; it is the soul which moves us forward, not ourself." [...] As Emerson once wrote, "What lies behind us and what lies in front of us pales in comparison to what lies within us."