--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As for your high towers and monuments…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admire_as-for-your-high-towers-and-monuments-th_1915402.jpg" --- # As for your high towers and monuments, there was a crazy… ![“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.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admire_as-for-your-high-towers-and-monuments-th_1915402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admire_as-for-your-high-towers-and-monuments-th_1915402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/henry-david-thoreau-20_admire_as-for-your-high-towers-and-monuments-th_1915402.jpg) > “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.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Crazy Fellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-fellow-2909727/) [Dig China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dig-china-2909726/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [High Towers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-towers-2702299/) [Holes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holes/) [Kettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kettles/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Monument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monument/) [Monuments Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monuments-crazy-2909725/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pot/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Towers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towers/) [Towers Monuments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towers-monuments-2909728/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The road to hell is paved with reasonable religion with a non-anxious god. 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Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. 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What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. 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