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=                         Ralph_Waldo_Trine                          =
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                            Introduction
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Ralph Waldo Trine (9 September 1866 - 22 February 1958) was an
American New Thought writer, philosopher and animal welfare activist.


                             Biography
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Trine was born in Mount Morris, Illinois to Ellen E. Newcomer and
Samuel G. Trine. He was educated at Knox College where he graduated
A.B. in 1891. He studied history and political science at Johns
Hopkins University and obtained his A.M. from Knox College in 1893.

Trine married Grace Steele Hyde and they had one son. As a young man
he worked as a correspondent for the 'Boston Evening Transcript'.
During this time he became influenced by the idealistic philosophy of
Ralph Waldo Emerson. Trine was also influenced by George Herron's
Christian socialism. Trine's spiritual views have been described as
being a mixture of Buddhism, pantheism, spiritualism,
transcendentalism, Christian socialism, and neo-Vedanta philosophy.

Trine authored 'In Tune with the Infinite' which has remained the most
popular publication in the New Thought movement. Translated into 20
languages, the book articulates Trine's belief that aligning oneself
with the universal spirit, or infinite life, can lead to inner peace,
health, and success. He emphasized the transformative power of
positive thinking, faith, and moral character over material ambition.
Unlike most other New Thought writers, Trine did not resort to mental
money making advice and has been described as "one of the rare purists
whose books were guileless optimism". In the 1920s, Trine became
associated with Henry Ford and published some of their conversations
in 'The Power that Wins,' illustrating how his ideas resonated with
influential public figures.

Trine lived and worked on a fruit farm in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.


                           Animal welfare
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Trine was a vegetarian for ethical reasons and supported animal
welfare. His book 'Every Living Creature' called for kindness to
animals and advocated a vegetarian diet. He was the director of the
American Humane Education Society and the Massachusetts Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.


                       Selected publications
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*[https://archive.org/details/intunewithinfini00trin/page/n5/mode/2up
'In Tune with the Infinite'], T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1897
*[https://archive.org/details/everylivingcrea00trin/page/n3/mode/2up
'Every Living Creature'], T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1899
*[https://archive.org/details/greatestthingeve00trinrich/page/n3/mode/2up
'The Greatest Thing Ever Known'], T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1898
*'In the Fire of the Heart', McClure, Philips & Co, 1906
*'The Wayfarer On The Open Road', George Bell and Sons, 1908
*[https://archive.org/details/myphilosophymyre0000trin/page/n5/mode/2up
'My Philosophy and My Religion'], Dodd, Mead & Company, 1921
*'The Power that Wins', The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1929


                     In Tune With The Infinite
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In 'In Tune With The Infinite,' Trine's core beliefs are clearly
expressed. One of his central ideas is that the most important fact of
human life is coming into a conscious and vital realization of one's
oneness with  Infinite Life, and opening oneself to this divine
inflow.  Instead of promoting material success, Trine focused on
cultivating moral character and inner harmony. For him, success came
not from striving for wealth, but from living in accordance with
divine order. Trine argued that the mind held the real power: by
thinking positively and harmonizing one's thoughts with the Infinite,
individuals could transform both their inner life and external
circumstances. Trine's work is deeply invested in mind-body
connections, arguing that physical health can even be achieved through
spiritual alignment and mental clarity. Within the text, Trine
articulates that access to divine truth is available to all, not
solely religious elites. In this manner, he mad spiritual insight
apart of everyday life. Scholars have noted the that the power of 'In
Tune With The Infinite' lies within its optimistic, emotionally
edifying vision of life. His idealism is described as vague yet
appealing, offering spiritual comfort.


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