--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Concord is just as idiotic as ever in…" description: "\"Concord is just as idiotic as ever in relation to the spirits and their knockings. Most people here believe in a spiritual world ... in spirits which t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/henry-david-thoreau-20_believe_concord-is-just-as-idiotic-as-ever-in-re_796428.jpg" --- # Concord is just as idiotic as ever in relation to the… ![“Concord is just as idiotic as ever in relation to the spirits and their knockings. Most people here believe in a spiritual world ... in spirits which the very bullfrogs in our meadows would blackball. Their evil genius is seeing how low it can degrade them. The hooting of owls, the croaking of…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/henry-david-thoreau-20_believe_concord-is-just-as-idiotic-as-ever-in-re_796428.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/henry-david-thoreau-20_believe_concord-is-just-as-idiotic-as-ever-in-re_796428.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/henry-david-thoreau-20_believe_concord-is-just-as-idiotic-as-ever-in-re_796428.jpg) > “Concord is just as idiotic as ever in relation to the spirits and their knockings. Most people here believe in a spiritual world ... in spirits which the very bullfrogs in our meadows would blackball. Their evil genius is seeing how low it can degrade them. The hooting of owls, the croaking of frogs, is celestial wisdom in comparison.” [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. Human attempts to control nature are foolish; natural sounds reveal deeper wisdom. **In simple terms:** Nature’s noises are wiser than human schemes. Key Takeaway Listen to nature for insight. Themes nature wisdom human folly Mood contemplative reverent Type philosophical environmental When to use this quote - forest walks - urban noise - environmental education - spiritual retreats Key Concepts environmental philosophy spirituality humility Questions to Reflect On - What natural sounds bring you clarity? - How can we respect nature’s intelligence? A Different Perspective Human arrogance often blinds us to nature’s lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Celestial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celestial/) [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-genius/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Owl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owl/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The mass never comes up to the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-never-comes-up-to-the-standard-of-its-best-member-but-on-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I do not believe that the spiritual law works on a field of its own. On the contrary, it expresses itself only through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-believe-that-the-spiritual-law-works-on-a-field-of-its-own/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [It's questionable whether I believe in God or Jesus but I do believe in a spiritual world and some kind of afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/it-s-questionable-whether-i-believe-in-god-or-jesus-but-i-do-believe/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [I believe that the most spiritual act is the most practical in the true sense of the term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adgjm-ptwsenoraroy/i-believe-that-the-most-spiritual-act-is-the-most-practical-in-the/) Adgjm/ptwSenoraroy > [I strongly believe that nothing is more spiritual than living at our highest potential while serving others. I believe that the more closely aligned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-johnson/i-strongly-believe-that-nothing-is-more-spiritual-than-living-at-our/) [Brian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-johnson/) > [Books of entertainment first led Adam Clarke to believe in a spiritual world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/books-of-entertainment-first-led-adam-clarke-to-believe-in-a/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) > [“The atheist would never believe that the spiritual realm exists, unless the spiritual realm decides to scare them with a near-death or out-of- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-atheist-would-never-believe-that-the-spiritual-realm-exists/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I believe that there is some spiritual entity that's greater than us. I do not belong to any specific organized religion. I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/i-believe-that-there-is-some-spiritual-entity-that-s-greater-than-us/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [I am one of those who believe that spiritual progress is a rule of human life, but the approach to perfection is slow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-am-one-of-those-who-believe-that-spiritual-progress-is-a-rule-of/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The natural man must know in order to believe; The spiritual man must believe in order to know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-natural-man-must-know-in-order-to-believe-the-spiritual-man-must/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [When people say do you believe in God? what do they mean by it? Do I believe in some spiritual force in the world?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/when-people-say-do-you-believe-in-god-what-do-they-mean-by-it-do-i/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“I believe everyone is on a spiritual path—some people know it, some don’t. The ones that know it call themselves religious, spiritual, or Soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mildon/i-believe-everyone-is-on-a-spiritual-path-some-people-know-it-some/) [Emma Mildon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mildon/) > [A lot has happened since Dr. King left us. He probably wouldn't recognize the landscape if he saw it, but I still believe he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-dees/a-lot-has-happened-since-dr-king-left-us-he-probably-wouldn-t/) [Morris Dees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-dees/) > [I very much believe in things unseen, both of positive and destructive energy, and I have never seen The Exorcist through from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/i-very-much-believe-in-things-unseen-both-of-positive-and-destructive/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. 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. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Concord is just as idiotic as ever in relation to the spirits and their knockings. Most people here believe in a spiritual world ... in spirits which the very bullfrogs in our meadows would blackball. Their evil genius is seeing how low it can degrade them. 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