Behinds Quote by Henry David Thoreau
““One farmer says to me, 'You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with;' and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying his system with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Walden, Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Thoreau critiques relying solely on vegetables for nutrition, arguing they lack bone-building nutrients, and highlights the need for balanced diet including protein sources for bone health.
In simple terms: Vegetables alone don’t provide enough bone nutrients.
Include protein sources for strong bones.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal health planning
- dietary counseling
- fitness training
- agricultural education
- nutritional research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What protein sources do you incorporate daily?
- How can you diversify your diet for bone health?
A solely diet can still support bone health if fortified or combined with other nutrients.