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Politician Quotes by Henry David Thoreau

10 Politician quotes by Henry David Thoreau

All Politician quotes Henry David Thoreau’s page

When Henry David Thoreau turned his eye toward the corridors of power, his words cut straight to the heart of civic responsibility. This brief set of ten quotes offers a clear, contemplative lens on what it means to serve—or to be served—by those in office.

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The oldest, wisest politician grows not more human so, but is merely a gray wharf rat at last.

Henry David Thoreau

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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

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The fact which the politician faces is merely that there is less honor among thieves than was supposed, and not the fact…

Henry David Thoreau

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We are a nation of politicians, concerned about the outmost defenses only of freedom. It is our children's children who may perchance…

Henry David Thoreau

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We are not a religious people, but we are a nation of politicians. We do not care for the Bible, but we…

Henry David Thoreau

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Whose are the truly labored sentences? From the weak and flimsy periods of the politician and literary man, we are glad to…

Henry David Thoreau

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Prominent and influential editors, accustomed to deal with politicians, men of an infinitely lower grade, say, in their ignorance,that he acted "on…

Henry David Thoreau

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Others -- as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders -- serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely…

Henry David Thoreau

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No man with a genius for legislation has appeared in America. They are rare in the history of the world. There are…

Henry David Thoreau

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Perhaps anxious politicians may prove that only seventeen white men and five negroes were concerned in the late enterprise; but their very…

Henry David Thoreau

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More by Henry David Thoreau

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

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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

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“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

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I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.

Henry David Thoreau

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“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

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“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

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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

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A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.

Henry David Thoreau

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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

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I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

Henry David Thoreau

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The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.

Henry David Thoreau

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Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.

Henry David Thoreau

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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

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“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

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Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life

Henry David Thoreau

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