Country Quotes by Henry David Thoreau

As in many countries precious metals belong to the crown, so here more precious natural objects of rare beauty should belong to…

— Henry David Thoreau

Don't spend your time in drilling soldiers, who may turn out hirelings after all, but give to undrilled peasantry a country to…

— Henry David Thoreau

I am a citizen of the world first, and of this country at a later and more convenient hour.

— Henry David Thoreau

He may travel who can subsist on the wild fruits and game of the most cultivated country.

— Henry David Thoreau

In some countries a hunting parson is no uncommon sight. Such a one might make a good shepherd's dog, but is far…

— Henry David Thoreau

It takes a man of genius to travel in his own country, in his native village; to make any progress between his…

— Henry David Thoreau

The country is an archipelago of lakes,--the lake-country of New England.

— Henry David Thoreau

Instead of the scream of a fish hawk scaring the fishes, is heard the whistle of the steam-engine, arousing a country to…

— Henry David Thoreau

I am reminded by my journey how exceedingly new this country still is. You have only to travel for a few days…

— Henry David Thoreau

I have heard of a minister, who had been a fisherman, being settled in Bridgewater for as long a time as he…

— Henry David Thoreau

The Canadians of those days, at least, possessed a roving spirit of adventure which carried them further, in exposure to hardship and…

— Henry David Thoreau

There would be this advantage in traveling in your own country, even in your own neighborhood, that you would be so thoroughly…

— Henry David Thoreau

It seems to me that the god that is commonly worshipped in civilized countries is not at all divine, though he bears…

— Henry David Thoreau

In respect to religion and the healing art, all nations are still in a state of barbarism. In the most civilized countries…

— Henry David Thoreau

Have we even so much as discovered and settled the shores? Let a man travel on foot along the coastand tell me…

— Henry David Thoreau

What a battle a man must fight everywhere to maintain his standing army of thoughts, and march with them in orderly array…

— Henry David Thoreau

There were three classes of inhabitants who either frequent or inhabit the country which we had now entered: first, the loggers, who,…

— Henry David Thoreau

Our own country furnishes antiquities as ancient and durable, and as useful, as any; rocks at least as well covered with lichens,and…

— Henry David Thoreau

A man must generally get away some hundreds or thousands of miles from home before he can be said to begin his…

— Henry David Thoreau

There is a sort of homely truth and naturalness in some books which is very rare to find, and yet looks cheap…

— Henry David Thoreau

I find that the respectable man, so called, has immediately drifted from his position, and despairs of his country, when his country…

— Henry David Thoreau

True, there are architects so called in this country, and I have heard of one at least possessed with the idea of…

— Henry David Thoreau

I confess I was surprised to find that so many men spent their whole day, ay, their whole lives almost, a-fishing. It…

— Henry David Thoreau

That devilish Iron Horse, whose ear-rending neigh is heard throughout the town, has muddied the Boiling Spring with his foot, and he…

— Henry David Thoreau

“I was once reproved by a minister who was driving a poor beast to some meeting-house horse-sheds among the hills of New…

— Henry David Thoreau

Give me a country where it is the most natural thing in the world for a government that does not understand you…

— Henry David Thoreau

Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously…

— Henry David Thoreau

What is a country without rabbits and partridges? They are among the most simple and indigenous animal products; ancient and venerable families…

— Henry David Thoreau

As a true patriot, I should be ashamed to think that Adam in paradise was more favorably situated on the whole than…

— Henry David Thoreau

The mission of men there seems to be, like so many busy demons, to drive the forest all out of the country,…

— Henry David Thoreau

When I consider that the noble animals have been exterminated here - the cougar, panther, lynx, wolverine, wolf, bear, moose, deer, the…

— Henry David Thoreau

Two or three hours' walking will carry me to as strange a country as I expect ever to see. A single farmhouse…

— Henry David Thoreau

The fate of the country does not depend on how you vote at the polls - the worst man is as strong…

— Henry David Thoreau

Life consists with Wildness. The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him. One who pressed…

— Henry David Thoreau

I do believe that the outward and the inward life correspond; that if any should succeed to live a higher life, others…

— Henry David Thoreau

My vicinity affords many good walks; and though for so many years I have walked almost every day, and sometimes for several…

— Henry David Thoreau

Why should Canada, wild and unsettled as it is, impress us as an older country than the States, unless because her institutions…

— Henry David Thoreau

Take it for granted, when I am invited to lecture anywhere,for I have had a little experience in that business,that there is…

— Henry David Thoreau

New York has her wilderness within her own borders; and though the sailors of Europe are familiar with the soundings of her…

— Henry David Thoreau

When a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a…

— Henry David Thoreau