The line 'I greet you at the beginning of a great career' was spoken by which transcendentalist?

• A. Henry David Thoreau
• B. Margaret Fuller
• C. Louisa May Alcott
• D. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Answer: (D)

This line captures the transcendentalist faith in individual potential and the calling of a new generation. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a central figure in American transcendentalism, often spoke with hopeful, expansive rhetoric about self-reliance, growth, and starting fresh toward a meaningful life. The sentiment of greeting someone at the beginning of a great career fits his voice and themes—encouraging bold thinking, personal responsibility, and the belief that each person can shape their path through inner conviction. The other authors are known for different focal points—Thoreau for nature and civil disobedience, Fuller for social reform and leadership, Alcott for fiction—so the line aligns best with Emerson’s public voice.