Skip to content

Art Quote by Henry David Thoreau

Download Open image
““We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.””

Henry David Thoreau

3.8 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Henry David Thoreau

Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes

More Art quotes

Browse all 48,652 Art quotes