The scholar is not apt to make his most familiar experience come gracefully to the aid of his expression. — 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
When I hear the hypercritical quarreling about grammar and style, the position of the particles, etc., etc... I see that they forget… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We seem to have forgotten that the expression "a liberal education" originally meant among the Romans one worthy of free men; while… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I fear chiefly lest my expression may not be extravagant enough, may not wander far enough beyond the narrow limit of my… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The word which is best said came nearest to not being spoken at all, for it is cousin to a deed which… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
No man's thoughts are new, but the style of their expression is the never-failing novelty which cheers and refreshes men. If we… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There is always some accident in the best things, whether thoughts or expressions or deeds. The memorable thought, the happy expression, the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The true poem is not that which the public read. There is always a poem not printed on paper,... in the poet's… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We have built for this world a family mansion, and the next a family tomb. The best works of art are the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A true poem is distinguished not so much by a felicitous expression, or any thought it suggests, as by the atmosphere which… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
After all, I believe it is the style of thought entirely, and the style of expression, which makes the difference in books. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
All expression of truth does at length take this deep ethical form. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
This fond reiteration of the oldest expressions of truth by the latest posterity, content with slightly and religiously retouchingthe old material, is… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
They are not callow like the young of most birds, but more perfectly developed and precocious even than chickens. The remarkably adult… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Many expressions in the New Testament come naturally to the lips of all Protestants, and it furnishes the most pregnant and practical… — 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
