Farmer Quote by Henry David Thoreau
““We have no festival, nor procession, nor ceremony, not excepting our cattle-shows and so-called Thanksgivings, by which the farmer expresses a sense of the sacredness of his calling, or is reminded of its sacred origin. It is the premium and the feast which tempt him. He sacrifices not to Ceres and the Terrestrial Jove, but to the infernal Plutus rather. By avarice and selfishness, and a grovelling habit, from which none of us is free, of regarding the soil as property, or the means of acquiring property chiefly, the landscape is deformed, husbandry is degraded with us, and the farmer leads the meanest of lives. He knows Nature but as a robber.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Degradation of the Farmer,” 1854
Excessive materialism corrupts the farmer’s connection to nature, turning land into profit.
In simple terms: Greed harms the farmer’s bond with earth.
Key Takeaway
Respect nature over profit.
Themes
materialism
environment
ethics
agriculture
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
Type
critical
reflective
When to use this quote
- modern farming
- land stewardship
- sustainable agriculture
- community gardens
Key Concepts
sacredness
degradation
human‑nature relationship
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modern farming balance profit and stewardship?
- What can individuals do to honor the land?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize past without practical solutions.
