Drawing his inspiration from the idealistic writings of Plato, Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that each of us, at heart, is "part and parcel of the Divine." In his famous essay on the subject, "The Oversoul," Emerson wrote about the divine nature that resides within us. He was convinced that spiritual growth hinged almost entirely upon our ability to rediscover this oversoul within ourselves.
— Phillip L. Berman, Ralph Waldo , The Journey Home by Phillip L. Berman, Emerson