If we were always, indeed, getting our living, and regulating our lives according to the last and best mode we had learned,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I love Nature partly because she is not man, but a retreat from him. None of his institutions control or pervade her.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is said that the British Empire is very large and respectable, and that the United States are a first-rate power. We… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What do the botanists know? Our lives should go between the lichen and the bark. The eye may see for the hand,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
But it is rather derogatory that your dwelling-place should be only a neighborhood to a great city,--to live on an inclined plane.I… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is so rare to meet with a man outdoors who cherishes a worthy thought in his mind, which is independent of… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There never was and is not likely soon to be a nation of philosophers, nor am I certain it is desirable that… — 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
I should consider it a greater success to interest one wise and earnest soul, than a million unwise and frivolous. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is not for a man to put himself in such an attitude to society, but to maintain himself in whatever attitude… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There should always be some flowering and maturing of the fruits of nature in the cooking process. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Was awakened in the night to a strain of music dying away, - passing travellers singing. My being was so expanded and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It is reasonable that a man should be something worthier at the end of the year than he was at the beginning. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Whoever can discern truth has received his commission from a higher source than the chiefest justice in the world who can discernonly… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
When I meet a government which says to me, "Your money or your life," why should I be in haste to give… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I should fear the infinite power and inflexible justice of the almighty mortal hardly as yet apotheosized, so wholly masculine, with no… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I could lecture on dry oak leaves; I could, but who would hear me? If I were to try it on any… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Ancient history has an air of antiquity. It should be more modern. It is written as if the specator should be thinking… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Faith keeps many doubts in her pay. If I could not doubt, I should not believe. — 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 mode of founding a college is, commonly, to get up a subscription of dollars and cents, and then, following blindly the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What the essential difference between man and woman is, that they should be thus attracted to one another, no one has satisfactorily… — 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
