A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has a virtue in it, and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Sincerity is a great but rare virtue, and we pardon to it much complaining, and the betrayal of many weaknesses. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly but the virtue of pigs in a litter, which lie close together to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind. — 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
In ancient days the Pythagoreans were used to change names with each other,--fancying that each would share the virtues they admired in… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What is called common sense is excellent in its department, and as invaluable as the virtue of conformity in the army and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The slight reproach to which the virtue of patriotism is commonly liable, the noble are most likely to incur. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Our vices always lie in the direction of our virtues, and in their best estate are but plausible imitations of the latter. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The virtue of making two blades of grass grow where only one grew before does not begin to be superhuman. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
That virtue we appreciate is as much ours as another s. We see so much only as we possess. — 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
Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The man who takes the liberty to live is superior to all the laws, by virtue of his relation to the lawmaker. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A Friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of… — 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
What is chastity? How shall a man know if he is chaste? He shall not know it. We have heard of this… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue. — 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
We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke strops our vice. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
To the man who cherishes a secret in his breast, there is a still greater secret unexplored. Our most indifferent acts may… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
My friend is one who takes me for what I am. A stranger takes me for something else than what I am.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If it is the result of a pure love, there can be nothing sensual in marriage. Chastity is something positive, not negative.… — 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
