How sweet it would be to treat men and things, for an hour, for just what they are! — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
In a world of peace and love, music would be the universal language. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It would be better if there were but one inhabitant to a square mile, as where I live. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
One piece of good sense would be more memorable than a monument as high as the moon. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If I shall sell both my forenoons and afternoons to society, as most appear to do, I'm sure that, for me, there… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If I were confined to a corner of a garret all my days, like a spider, the world would be just as… — 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
It would be no reproach to a philosopher, that he knew the future better than the past, or even than the present.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I could not undertake to form a nucleus of an institution for the development of infant minds, where none already existed. It… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
One who knew how to appropriate the true value of this world would be the poorest man in it. The poor rich… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I am engaged to Concord and my own private pursuits by 10,000 ties, and it would be suicide to rend them. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We should seek to be fellow students with the pupil, and should learn of, as well as with him, if we would… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Every ambitious would-be empire, clarions it abroad that she is conquering the world to bring it peace, security and freedom, and it… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It would be worth the while if in each town there were a committee appointed to see that the beauty of the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Priests and physicians should never look one another in the face. They have no common ground, nor is there any to mediate… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What would we not give for some great poem to read now, which would be in harmony with the scenery,--for if men… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It would be well, perhaps, if we were to spend more of our days and nights without any obstruction between us and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There would be this advantage in traveling in your own country, even in your own neighborhood, that you would be so thoroughly… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
This world is a place of business. What an infinite bustle! I am awaked almost every night by the panting of the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted or enterprised or… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The indescribable innocence and beneficence of Nature-of sun and wind and rain, of summer and winter-such health, such cheer, they afford forever!… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I do not remember anything which Confucius has said directly respecting man's "origin, purpose, and destiny." He was more practical than that.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to… — 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
What is called eloquence in the forum is commonly found to be rhetoric in the study. The orator yields to the inspiration… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The New Testament is an invaluable book, though I confess to having been slightly prejudiced against it in my very early days… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The aim of the laborer should be, not to get his living, to get "a good job," but to perform well a… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The gentle rain which waters my beans and keeps me in the house today is not drear and melancholy, but good for… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I do not wish to kill nor to be killed, but I can foresee circumstances in which these things would be by… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
In Canada an ordinary New England house would be mistaken for the château, and while every village here contains at least severalgentlemen… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I saw deep in the eyes of the animals the human soul look out upon me. I saw where it was born… — 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
The most interesting thing which I heard of, in this township of Hull, was an unfailing spring, whose locality was pointed out… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I have made a very rude translation of the Seven against Thebes, and Pindar too I have looked at, and wish he… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If men were to be destroyed and the books they have written were to be transmitted to a new race of creatures,… — 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
I am convinced that if all men were to live as simply as I then did, thieving and robbery would be unknown.… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Actually, the laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day; he cannot afford to sustain the manliest relations… — 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
