Admire Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“As for your high towers and monuments, there was a crazy fellow once in this town who undertook to dig through to China, and he got so far that, as he said, he heard the Chinese pots and kettles rattle; but I think that I shall not go out of my way to admire the hole which he made.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Walden, Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Critiques superficial achievements and warns against admiring hollow feats that lack deeper purpose.
In simple terms: Don't admire empty accomplishments.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaningful work over flashy displays.
Themes
humility
authenticity
purpose
Mood
contemplative
skeptical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career choices
- personal goals
- creative projects
- public discourse
Key Concepts
existentialism
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What achievements truly matter to you?
- How do you differentiate substance from show?
A Different Perspective
Such feats may be impressive but lack lasting value.
![“He [the cat] wound himself around her legs, purring the purr of ardent desire like a kettle coming to a boil and then bubbling very fast.” quote by May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/208/may-sarton-897_ardent_he-the-cat-wound-himself-around-her-legs_459825.jpg)
