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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of "expediency." There is no such thing as sliding… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is not so important that many should be good as you, as that there be some absolute goodness somewhere; for that… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
In a thousand apparently humble ways men busy themselves to make some right take the place of some wrong,--if it is only… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of so much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Men have a singular desire to be good without being good for anything, because, perchance, they think vaguely that so it will… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Others -- as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders -- serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
You cannot receive a shock unless you have an electric affinity for that which shocks you. — 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
Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The whole body of what is now called moral or ethical truth existed in the golden age as abstract science. Or, if… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Any moral philosophy is exceedingly rare. This of Menu addresses our privacy more than most. It is a more private and familiar,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
How wholesome winter is, seen far or near; how good, above all mere sentimental, warm-blooded, short-lived, soft-hearted, moral goodness, commonly so called.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The sort of morality which the priests inculcate is a very subtle policy, far finer than the politicians', and the world is… — 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
