The volatile truth of our words should continually betray the inadequacy of the residual statement. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“No face which we can give to a matter will stead us so well at last as the truth.” — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak, But only thinks and does; Though surely out 'twill leak Without the help… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Stuff a cold and starve a cold are but two ways. They are the two practices, both always in full blast. Yet… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
You speak of poverty and dependence. Who are poor and dependent? Who are rich and independent? When was it that men agreed… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Truth is his inspirer, and earnestness the polisher of his sentences. He could afford to lose his Sharp's rifles, while he retained… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Truth is always in harmony with herself, and is not concerned chiefly to reveal the justice that may consist with wrong-doing. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I am resolved that I will not through humility become the devil's attorney. I will endeavor to speak a good word for… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
In all perception of the truth there is a divine ecstasy, an inexpressible delirium of joy, as when a youth embraces his… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Tom Hyde, the tinker, standing on the gallows, was asked if he had anything to say. "Tell the tailors," said he, "to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
To some extent, mythology is only the most ancient history and biography. So far from being false or fabulous in the common… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Exaggeration! was ever any virtue attributed to a man without exaggeration? was ever any vice, without infinite exaggeration? Do we not exaggerate… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The wildest dreams of wild men, even, are not the less true, though they may not recommend themselves to the sense which… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If there is nothing new on the earth, still the traveler always has a resource in the skies. They are constantly turning… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
That excitement about Kossuth, consider how characteristic, but superficial, it was!--only another kind of politics or dancing. Men were making speeches to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The scholar may be sure that he writes the tougher truth for the calluses on his palms. They give firmness to the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“As the least drop of wine tinges the whole goblet, so the least particle of truth colors our whole life. It is… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
As a snow-drift is formed where there is a lull in the wind, so, one would say, where there is a lull… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I only desire sincere relations with the worthiest of my acquaintance, that they may give me an opportunity once in a year… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The poet will write for his peers alone. He will remember only that he saw truth and beauty from his position, and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We should never stand upon ceremony with sincerity. We should never cheat and insult and banish one another by our meanness, if… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Expect no trivial truth from me, unless I am on the witness- stand. I will come as near to lying as you… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
You have but little more to do than throw up your cap for entertainment these American days… Farmers' sons will stare by… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
When we come down into the distant village, visible from the mountain-top, the nobler inhabitants with whom we peopled it have departed,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
You may rely on it that you have the best of me in my books, and that I am not worth seeing… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A regular council was held with the Indians, who had come in on their ponies, and speeches were made on both sides… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I often accuse my finest acquaintances of an immense frivolity; for, while there are manners and compliments we do not meet, we… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Whoever can discern truth has received his commission from a higher source than the chiefest justice in the world who can discernonly… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
