1. In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.
The point that Emerson is trying to make through this aphorism is that you have to be careful in what you do in life. When skating over thin ice, it is more likely to break underneath you. Then again, when skating over thin ice more quickly, it is less likely for it to break and then fall through. This exposes you to less danger overall. My reaction to this aphorism is that it can be helpful throughout life. It tells you to be careful throughout life, but when doing something dangerous, do it quickly so you won’t get hurt from it.
2. What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered.
The meaning of this aphorism that Emerson is trying to get across is that some “weeds” may have good qualities to them. People may ignore them or see them as a nuisance at first. When you dig deeper to their roots, you may find that there is good in it and is useful after all. My opinion on this aphorism is that there is a hidden message underneath it. It could be talking about a person that others walk by every day, such as someone in a lower class society, or maybe even homeless. However, you may find that they may have a hidden talent that no one knows about because of the way they are treated.
3. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
The meaning of this aphorism by Emerson talks about how should experiment in life. Try new things every day, because the more you experiment in life, the more life lessons are learned. Even if it involves making mistakes in life, you should still move on and acquire a meaning from that. My opinion from reading this would be to always try new things. Be able to live life to the fullest and learn from where you’ve fallen.