It is said that a rogue does not look you in the face, neither does an honest man look at you as… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A kitten is so flexible that she is almost double; the hind parts are equivalent to another kitten with which the forepart… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
My friend is one who takes me for what I am. A stranger takes me for something else than what I am.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The best books are not read even by those who are called good readers. What does our Concord culture amount to? There… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Methinks some creeds in vestries and churches do forget the hunter wrapped in furs by the Great Slave Lake, and that the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
An efficient and valuable man does what he can, whether the community pay him for it or not. The inefficient offer their… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Why the jailer does not leave open his prison doors,--why the judge does not dismiss his case,--why the preacher does not dismisshis… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There is not one kind of food for all men. You must and you will feed those faculties which you exercise. The… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The aim of the laborer should be, not to get his living, to get "a good job," but to perform well a… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The principal, the only, thing a man makes, is his condition of fate. Though commonly he does not know it, nor put… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Will mankind never learn that policy is not morality,--that it never secures any moral right, but considers merely what is expedient? chooses… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A man's real faith is never contained in his creed, nor is his creed an article of his faith. The last is… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I must conclude that Conscience, if that be the name of it, was not given us for no purpose, or for a… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The true reformer does not want time, nor money, nor coöperation, nor advice. What is time but the stuff delay is made… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Bread may not always nourish us; but it always does us good, it even takes stiffness out of our joints, and makes… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I am less affected by their heroism who stood up for half an hour in the front line at Buena Vista, than… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and extract a motive power out of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
He is not a true man of science who does not bring some sympathy to his studies, and expect to learn something… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Is it the lumberman, then, who is the friend and lover of the pine, stands nearest to it, and understands its nature… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
All expression of truth does at length take this deep ethical form. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We find it difficult to choose our direction because it does not yet exist distinctly in our idea. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“What avails it that another loves you, if he does not understand you? Such love is a curse.” — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The man who thrusts his manners upon me does as if he were to insist on introducing me to his cabinet of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all flat substances, he does not stand in the direction of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Give me the old familiar walk, postoffice and all, with this ever new self, with this infinite expectation and faith, which does… — 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 Image
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 Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
“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 Image
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 Image
A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
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 Image
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
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 Image
