evidence: What lies behind us and what lies before us meaning: In this article, we talk about the meaning of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote on what lies within us. The beauty of this quote is in its reference to our own individual strengths. I love the reference to finding our inner strength and inspiration to do what’s most important to us. We will talk about the author of this quote, its meaning and its relevance to us for a debate, essay on this topic. [...] The central part of this quote is in the meaning of what lies within us. We’ve already highlighted that Ralph Waldo Emerson was a proponent of individualism. If we look inward, we can identify our potential, possibilities and the values that we care about. The indicators of the past or its limitations are only warning signs. These things shouldn’t be taken as irrefutable truth. The most valuable aspect lies in how we use these limitations to move forward in our life. Everything else acts as a data point. It is up to us to decide and define our future paths. The meaning of this quote — What lies behind us and what lies before us is to encourage us to think beyond our past and inhibitions. We have to let go of our past to embrace what our future can be about.