“Everybody we know surrounds himself with a fine house, fine books, conservatory, gardens, equipage, and all manner of toys, as screens to interpose between himself and his guest. Does it not seem as if man was of a very sly, elusive nature, and dreaded nothing so much as a full rencontre front to front with his fellow?” PhilosophyEssays19th CenturyEssayistPoet PhilosopherRalph Wald Emerson Book:Essays on Manners, Self-Reliance, Compensation, Nature, Friendship Source: Essays on Manners, Self-Reliance, Compensation, Nature, Friendship