All fables, indeed, have their morals; but the innocent enjoy the story. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
No man loses ever on a lower level by magnanimity on a higher. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Only what is thought, said, or done at a certain rare coincidence is good. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Morality is how you go about getting what you want without screwing anybody to get it. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What is morality but immemorial custom? Conscience is the chief of conservatives. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
He who eats the fruit should at least plant the seed; ay, if possible, a better seed than that whose fruit he… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Where there is not discernment, the behavior even of the purest soul may in effect amount to coarseness. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Our whole life is startlingly moral. There is never an instant's truce between virtue and vice. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A man had better starve at once than lose his innocence in the process of getting his bread. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Most think that they are above being supported by the town; but it oftener happens that they are not above supporting themselves… — 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… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
To the virtuous man, the universe is the only sanctum sanctorum, and the penetralia of the temple are the broad noon of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is not worth the while to let our imperfections disturb us always. The conscience really does not, and ought not to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If there were one who lived wholly without the use of money, the State itself would hesitate to demand it of him.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A worm is as good a traveler as a grasshopper or a cricket, and a much wiser settler. With all their activity… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice. Where is the skillful swordsman… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
All the moral laws are readily translated into natural philosophy, for often we have only to restore the primitive meaning of thewords… — 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
The New Testament is remarkable for its pure morality; the best of the Hindoo Scripture, for its pure intellectuality. The readeris nowhere… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It becomes the moralist, too, to inquire what man might do to improve and beautify the system; what to make the stars… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
On the whole, my respect for my fellow-men, except as one may outweigh a million, is not being increased these days… Such… — 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
The life of a good man will hardly improve us more than the life of a freebooter, for the inevitable laws appear… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
Christ was a sublime actor on the stage of the world. He knew what he was thinking of when he said, "Heaven… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The Jesuits were quite balked by those Indians who, being burned at the stake, suggested new modes of tortures to their tormentors.… — 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
Do what you know you ought to do. Why should we ever go abroad, even across the way, to ask a neighbor's… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I hear many condemn these men because they were so few. When were the good and the brave ever in a majority?… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
As we grow older, we live more coarsely, we relax a little in our disciplines, and, to some extent, cease to obey… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The eye which can appreciate the naked and absolute beauty of a scientific truth is far more rare than that whichis attracted… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Don't be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Mathematics should be mixed not only with physics but with ethics. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something. — 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
