We seem to think that the earth must go through the ordeal of sheep-pasturage before it is habitable by man. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The ears were made, not for such trivial uses as men are wont to suppose, but to hear celestial sounds. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The law will never make a man free; it is men who have got to make the law free. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There are various, nay, incredible faiths; why should we be alarmed at any of them? What man believes, God believes. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I never dreamed of any enormity greater than I have committed. I never knew, and never shall know, a worse man than… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The man whose horse trots a mile in a minute does not carry the most important messages. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
In civilization, as in a southern latitude, man degenerates at length, and yields to the incursion of more northern tribes. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The wisest man preaches no doctrines; he has no scheme; he sees no rafter, not even a cobweb, against the heavens. It… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The poet's body even is not fed like other men's, but he sometimes tastes the genuine nectar and ambrosia of the gods,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
You may raise enough money to tunnel a mountain, but you cannot raise money enough to hire a man who is minding… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Law never made man a whit more just; and by means of their respect for it, even the well disposed are daily… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Did ever a man try heroism, magnanimity, truth, sincerity, and find that there was no advantage in them - that it was… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Wherever a man separates from the multitude, and goes his own way in this mood, there indeed is a fork in the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really diligent student in… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Most men would feel shame if caught preparing with their own hands precisely such a dinner, whether of animal or vegetable food,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Ah! I need solitude. I have come forth to this hill at sunset to see the forms of the mountains in the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“I do not speak to those who are well employed, in whatever circumstances, and they know whether they are well employed or… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest. What… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Late in the afternoon we passed a man on the shore fishing with a long birch pole… The characteristics and pursuits of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
They who assert the purest right, and consequently are most dangerous to a corrupt State, commonly have not spent much time accumulating… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
Philosophy, certainly, is some account of truths the fragments and very insignificant parts of which man will practice in this workshop; truths… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Insane!... Ask the tyrant who is his most dangerous foe, the sane man or the insane? — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Great men, unknown to their generation, have their fame among the great who have preceded them, and all true worldly fame subsides… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Art is not tame, and Nature is not wild, in the ordinary sense. A perfect work of man's art would also be… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
But the divinest poem, or the life of a great man, is the severest satire… The greater the genius, the keener the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The newspapers are the ruling power. Any other government is reduced to a few marines at Fort Independence. If a man neglects… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Some have asked if the stock of men could not be improved,--if they could not be bred as cattle. Let Love be… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What would we not give for some great poem to read now, which would be in harmony with the scenery,--for if men… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If a man is alive, there is always danger that he may die, though the danger must be allowed to be less… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The strongest wind cannot stagger a Spirit; it is a Spirit's breath. A just man's purpose cannot be split on any Grampus… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The Indian...stands free and unconstrained in Nature, is her inhabitant and not her guest, and wears her easily and gracefully. But the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Should not every apartment in which man dwells be lofty enough to create some obscurity overhead, where flickering shadows may play at… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The improvements of ages have had but little influence on the essential laws of man's existence: as our skeletons, probably, are not… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
When I hear a grown man or woman say, "Once I had faith in men, now I have not," I am inclined… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
It is a momentous fact that a man may be good, or he may be bad; his life may be true, or… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
All men are really most attracted by the beauty of plain speech, and they even write in a florid style in imitation… — 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
