Ralph Waldo Trine

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

Biography

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. 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'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. 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. 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. 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. Within the text, Trine articulates that access to divine truth is available to all, not solely religious elites. In this manner, he made spiritual insight a part of everyday life. Scholars have noted 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.