--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that we may safely trust a good…" description: "\"“I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg" --- # I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we… ![“I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is well adapted to our weakness as our strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg) > ““I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is well adapted to our weakness as our strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to exaggerate the importance of what work we do; and yet how much is not done by us! or, what if we had been taken sick? How vigilant we are! determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it; all the day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one centre. All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant. Confucius said, “To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.” When one man has reduced a fact of the imagination to be a fact to his understanding, I foresee that all men will at length establish their lives on that basis.”” [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 beings tend to overestimate personal control and underestimate nature’s role, leading to anxiety and resistance to change. **In simple terms:** We overtrust ourselves and fear uncertainty, missing nature’s balance. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and trust natural balance. Themes trust anxiety control change faith Mood reflective thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - spiritual practice - decision making - adaptation Key Concepts philosophy psychology nature knowledge miracle Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal effort with trust in natural processes? - What habits reduce anxiety about uncertainty? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on control can hinder openness to new possibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [True knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-knowledge/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/so-thoroughly-and-sincerely-are-we-compelled-to-live-reverencing-our-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [All change is a miracle to contemplate, but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-change-is-a-miracle-to-contemplate-but-it-is-a-miracle-which-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I think we may safely trust a good deal more than we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-we-may-safely-trust-a-good-deal-more-than-we-do/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good-deal-more-than-we-do-we-may/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Confucius said, "To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/confucius-said-to-know-that-we-know-what-we-know-and-that-we-do-not/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I do not remember anything which Confucius has said directly respecting man's "origin, purpose, and destiny." He was more practical than that. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-remember-anything-which-confucius-has-said-directly/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When we contemplate the miracle of embodied life, we begin to partner with our bodies in a kinder way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-contemplate-the-miracle-of-embodied-life-we-begin-to-partner/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [I think I can safely say that nobody understands Quantum Mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-think-i-can-safely-say-that-nobody-understands-quantum-mechanics/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I think you can safely joke about anything. Mostly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katya-zamolodchikova/i-think-you-can-safely-joke-about-anything-mostly/) [Katya Zamolodchikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katya-zamolodchikova/) > [To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-know-that-we-know-what-we-know-and-that-we-do-not-know-what-we-do/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/true-friendship-can-afford-true-knowledge-it-does-not-depend-on/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Confucius said,"To know that you don't know is the beginning of knowing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/confucius-said-to-know-that-you-don-t-know-is-the-beginning-of-knowing/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Confucius, the philosopher and politician who was born in the sixth century B.C.E. He acquired a place in Chinese history akin to that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-osnos/confucius-the-philosopher-and-politician-who-was-born-in-the-sixth/) [Evan Osnos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-osnos/) > [“Confucius said: “You are never in a position to learn unless you are totally confused.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-gibson/confucius-said-you-are-never-in-a-position-to-learn-unless-you-are/) Marcus Gibson > [“Confucius said, “When young, beware of fighting; when strong, beware of sex; and when old, beware of possession,” which simply means that a boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/confucius-said-when-young-beware-of-fighting-when-strong-beware-of/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) ## 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 Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is well adapted to our weakness as our strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to exaggerate the importance of what work we do; and yet how much is not done by us! or, what if we had been taken sick? How vigilant we are! determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it; all the day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one centre. All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant. Confucius said, “To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.” When one man has reduced a fact of the imagination to be a fact to his understanding, I foresee that all men will at length establish their lives on that basis.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good-deal-more-than-we-do-we-may-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good-deal-more-than-we-do-we-may-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/henry-david-thoreau-20_change_i-think-that-we-may-safely-trust-a-good_2441649.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. 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