Ralph Waldo Emerson delivers a powerful message about the source of true power. He diminishes the importance of our past (regrets, failures, history) and our future (fears, uncertainties) by comparing them to the immense resource of our internal world.

The phrase "what lies within us" points to our character, resilience, wisdom, courage, and untapped potential. Emerson argues that this internal reservoir is so vast and powerful that the external circumstances of our past and future become "tiny matters" in comparison.

This quote is a call to stop being defined by our history or anxious about our future. It directs us to look inward, to tap into our profound inner strength, and to understand that we already possess everything we need to navigate life from a place of power and presence.