Ralph Waldo Emerson FRIENDSHIP AS ELEVATING THE SOUL   Emerson (1803-1882) was an American philosopher, writer and poet, who was the leader of the Transcendentalist movement of the 19th century.   The following passage is adapted from Emerson’s essay “Friendship” (published in Essays: First Series in 1841). In this essay, Emerson presents a sublime vision of friendship – so sublime that it is almost impossible for humans to achieve it fully. True friendship is not for fun or convenience, but for...