--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it…" description: "\"If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it must be on his native soil. Here I have been these forty years learning the language of these fields that I ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/henry-david-thoreau-20_bigs_if-a-man-is-rich-and-strong-anywhere-it_2977328.jpg" --- # If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it must be on his… ![“If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it must be on his native soil. Here I have been these forty years learning the language of these fields that I may the better express myself. If I should travel to the prairies, I should much less understand them, and my past life would serve me but ill to…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/henry-david-thoreau-20_bigs_if-a-man-is-rich-and-strong-anywhere-it_2977328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/henry-david-thoreau-20_bigs_if-a-man-is-rich-and-strong-anywhere-it_2977328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/henry-david-thoreau-20_bigs_if-a-man-is-rich-and-strong-anywhere-it_2977328.jpg) > “If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it must be on his native soil. Here I have been these forty years learning the language of these fields that I may the better express myself. If I should travel to the prairies, I should much less understand them, and my past life would serve me but ill to describe them. Many a weed here stands for more of life to me than the big trees of California would if I should go there. We need only travel enough to give our intellects an airing.” [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. A deep connection to one's native land enriches understanding and expression, while distant places feel less familiar. **In simple terms:** Home soil deepens insight; foreign places feel distant. Key Takeaway Value local roots for deeper insight. Themes nature identity place learning Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing about local nature - studying regional dialects - teaching community history - conserving native ecosystems Key Concepts environmentalism personal growth place attachment Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape your thoughts? - Can you balance local roots with global awareness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on local may limit broader perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Express Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-myself/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Forty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forty/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Ill Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill-weed-3456973/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [My past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-past/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-life/) [Prairie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prairie/) [Prairies Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prairies-understand-4612663/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Soil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soil/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-native-4612665/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Travel Intellects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel-intellects-4612664/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weed/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [We need only travel enough to give our intellects an airing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-need-only-travel-enough-to-give-our-intellects-an-airing/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [An ill weed grows apace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/an-ill-weed-grows-apace/) [George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/) > [See yonder thin column of smoke curling up through the woods from some invisible farmhouse, the standard raised over some rural homestead… It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/see-yonder-thin-column-of-smoke-curling-up-through-the-woods-from/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A truly good book is something as natural, and as unexpectedly and unaccountably fair and perfect, as a wild-flower discovered on the prairies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-truly-good-book-is-something-as-natural-and-as-unexpectedly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [About 4000 men, women and teenagers regularly venture out to play a game in -20 weather and stinging prairie winds. Bundled in sweaters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-cox/about-4000-men-women-and-teenagers-regularly-venture-out-to-play-a/) [Bob Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-cox/) > [I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/i-will-remain-what-i-am-until-i-die-a-hunter-and-when-there-are-no/) [Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/) > [“The prairie skies can always make you see more than what you believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-burnett/the-prairie-skies-can-always-make-you-see-more-than-what-you-believe/) [Jackson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-burnett/) > [The wild black scavengers of the skies laid their eggs in season and lovingly fed their young. They soared high over prairies and mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-wild-black-scavengers-of-the-skies-laid-their-eggs-in-season-and/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [The proud spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/the-proud-spirit-of-the-original-owners-of-these-vast-prairies/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [My family life reads a bit like 'Little House on the Prairie.' I was big sister to Joan, Renee, and brother William, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/my-family-life-reads-a-bit-like-little-house-on-the-prairie-i-was-big/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [You might be a redneck if you watch Little House on the Prairie for decorating tips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-watch-little-house-on-the-prairie-for/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Don't ask me about emotions in the Welsh dressing room. I'm someone who cries when he watches Little House on the Prairie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-norster/don-t-ask-me-about-emotions-in-the-welsh-dressing-room-i-m-someone/) [Bob Norster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-norster/) > [“You can never really escape. It goes with you, wherever you go. Somehow, the prairie dust gets in your blood, and it flows through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-baber/you-can-never-really-escape-it-goes-with-you-wherever-you-go-somehow/) [P.S. Baber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-baber/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## 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 Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [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/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it must be on his native soil. 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