---
title: "7 Admirable Quotes By Henry David Thoreau"
description: "7 Admirable quotes by Henry David Thoreau. Plus more from Henry David Thoreau and more Admirable sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-t_171972.jpg"
---

> [No method nor discipline can supersede the necessity of being forever on the alert. What is a course of history, or philosophy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-the-necessity-of-being-forever/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-t_171972.jpg)

> [A common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue-respect-for-law-is-that-you/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue_296670.jpg)

> [Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his "comb" and "spare shirt," "leathern breeches" and "gauze cap to keep off gnats," with as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys-his-comb-and-spare-shirt/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys_561622.jpg)

> [Seen from a lower point of view, the Constitution, with all its faults, is very good; the law and the courts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/seen-from-a-lower-point-of-view-the-constitution-with-all-its-faults/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_seen-from-a-lower-point-of-view-the-cons_1412129.jpg)

> [What an admirable training is science for the more active warfare of life! Indeed, the unchallenged bravery which these studies imply, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-an-admirable-training-is-science-for-the-more-active-warfare-of/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/henry-david-thoreau-20_active_what-an-admirable-training-is-science-fo_1444371.jpg)

> [Nature is an admirable schoolmistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/nature-is-an-admirable-schoolmistress/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_nature-is-an-admirable-schoolmistress-15_1510619.jpg)

> [There is always some accident in the best things, whether thoughts or expressions or deeds. The memorable thought, the happy expression, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-always-some-accident-in-the-best-things-whether-thoughts-or/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/henry-david-thoreau-20_accidents_there-is-always-some-accident-in-the-bes_1597100.jpg)

## Other authors on Admirable

## More by Henry David Thoreau

> [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/#itemlist",
            "name": "7 Admirable Quotes By Henry David Thoreau",
            "numberOfItems": 7,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "No method nor discipline can supersede the necessity of being forever on the alert. What is a course of history, or philosophy, or poetry, or the most admirable routine of life, compared with the discipline of looking always at what is to be seen? Will you be a reader, a student merely, or a seer?",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-the-necessity-of-being-forever/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-t_171972.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-t_171972.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-t_171972.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“No method nor discipline can supersede the necessity of being forever on the alert. What is a course of…” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "A common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue-respect-for-law-is-that-you/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue_296670.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue_296670.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue_296670.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“A common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel…” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his \"comb\" and \"spare shirt,\" \"leathern breeches\" and \"gauze cap to keep off gnats,\" with as much complacency as Bonaparte a park of artillery for the Russian campaign. The quiet bravery of the man is admirable.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys-his-comb-and-spare-shirt/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys_561622.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys_561622.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys_561622.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his \"comb\" and \"spare shirt,\" \"leathern breeches\" and \"gauze cap…” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Seen from a lower point of view, the Constitution, with all its faults, is very good; the law and the courts are very respectable;even this State and this American government are, in many respects, very admirable, and rare things, to be thankful for, such as a great many have described them; but seen from a point of view a little higher, they are what I have described them; seen from a higher still, and the highest, who shall say what they are, or that they are worth looking at or thinking of at all?",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/seen-from-a-lower-point-of-view-the-constitution-with-all-its-faults/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_seen-from-a-lower-point-of-view-the-cons_1412129.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_seen-from-a-lower-point-of-view-the-cons_1412129.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_seen-from-a-lower-point-of-view-the-cons_1412129.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Seen from a lower point of view, the Constitution, with all its faults, is very good; the law and the courts…” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "What an admirable training is science for the more active warfare of life! Indeed, the unchallenged bravery which these studies imply, is far more impressive than the trumpeted valor of the warrior.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-an-admirable-training-is-science-for-the-more-active-warfare-of/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/henry-david-thoreau-20_active_what-an-admirable-training-is-science-fo_1444371.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/henry-david-thoreau-20_active_what-an-admirable-training-is-science-fo_1444371.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/henry-david-thoreau-20_active_what-an-admirable-training-is-science-fo_1444371.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“What an admirable training is science for the more active warfare of life! Indeed, the unchallenged bravery…” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 6,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Nature is an admirable schoolmistress.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/nature-is-an-admirable-schoolmistress/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_nature-is-an-admirable-schoolmistress-15_1510619.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_nature-is-an-admirable-schoolmistress-15_1510619.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_nature-is-an-admirable-schoolmistress-15_1510619.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Nature is an admirable schoolmistress.” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 7,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "There is always some accident in the best things, whether thoughts or expressions or deeds. The memorable thought, the happy expression, the admirable deed are only partly ours.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Henry David Thoreau"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-always-some-accident-in-the-best-things-whether-thoughts-or/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/henry-david-thoreau-20_accidents_there-is-always-some-accident-in-the-bes_1597100.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/henry-david-thoreau-20_accidents_there-is-always-some-accident-in-the-bes_1597100.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/henry-david-thoreau-20_accidents_there-is-always-some-accident-in-the-bes_1597100.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“There is always some accident in the best things, whether thoughts or expressions or deeds. The memorable…” — Henry David Thoreau",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/",
            "name": "Admirable Quotes by Henry David Thoreau",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/henry-david-thoreau-20_admirable_no-method-nor-discipline-can-supersede-t_171972.jpg"
            },
            "description": "7 Admirable quotes by Henry David Thoreau. Plus more from Henry David Thoreau and more Admirable sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Admirable",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Henry David Thoreau",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admirable/henry-david-thoreau/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
