Ambition Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“It is best to lay our plans widely in youth, for then land is cheap, and it is but too easy to contract our views afterward. Youths so laid out, with broad avenues and parks, that they may make handsome and liberal old men! Show me a youth whose mind is like some Washington city of magnificent distances, prepared for the most remotely successful and glorious life after all, when those spaces shall be built over and the idea of the founder be realized. I trust that every New England boy will begin by laying out a Keene Street through his head, eight rods wide.”
About This Quote
Thoreau urges young people to think broadly and lay expansive foundations early, so later life can be generous and free, using metaphorical city planning to illustrate mental preparation.
In simple terms: Youth should map out wide, generous visions for later life.
Key Takeaway
Early expansive thinking yields a richer old age.
Themes
education
vision
planning
youth
Mood
inspirational
optimistic
Type
motivational
metaphorical advice
When to use this quote
- career development
- personal growth
- urban design studies
Key Concepts
mental architecture
long‑term perspective
Practical Applications
- encourage broad, exploratory learning in early education
Questions to Reflect On
- What does a 'wide' plan look like in practice?
- How can youth balance breadth with depth?
A Different Perspective
Metaphors may obscure practical steps; broad plans can be vague without concrete goals.
