--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In literature it is only the wild that…" description: "\"In literature it is only the wild that attracts us.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg" --- # In literature it is only the wild that attracts us. ![“In literature it is only the wild that attracts us.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg) > “In literature it is only the wild that attracts us.” [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. Literature draws us to untamed, raw experiences that reflect the wildness within humanity. **In simple terms:** Wild attraction Key Takeaway Nature of narrative Themes wildness nature literature human instinct freedom Mood intrigued reverent Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - book club - creative writing workshop - nature retreat Key Concepts Romanticism nature philosophy Practical Applications - literary analysis - creative inspiration Questions to Reflect On - Why does the wild fascinate us? - How does this influence storytelling? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracts/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-wild-1151760/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild/) [Wild Attracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-attracts-1151761/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [In short, all good things are wild and free. There is something in a strain of music, whether produced by an instrument or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-short-all-good-things-are-wild-and-free-there-is-something-in-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [To see wild life you must go forth at wild season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-see-wild-life-you-must-go-forth-at-wild-season/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Whatever has not come under the sway of man is wild. In this sense original and independent men are wild - not tamed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/whatever-has-not-come-under-the-sway-of-man-is-wild-in-this-sense/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“English literature, from the days of the minstrels to the Lake Poets—Chaucer and Spenser and Milton, and even Shakespeare, included—breathes no quite fresh and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/english-literature-from-the-days-of-the-minstrels-to-the-lake-poets/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A burning purpose attracts others who are drawn along with it and help fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/a-burning-purpose-attracts-others-who-are-drawn-along-with-it-and/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [The first thing that attracts me to any script is the writing. If I find myself becoming lost in a good yarn, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/the-first-thing-that-attracts-me-to-any-script-is-the-writing-if-i/) [Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/) > [Let your REal attitude attracts someone, because physical beauty is not a LIFETIME ASSET..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dela-cruz/let-your-real-attitude-attracts-someone-because-physical-beauty-is/) [Andy Dela Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dela-cruz/) > [The most likely explanation is the most practical. 'Macbeth' is a very popular play with audiences. If you want to sell out a theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-most-likely-explanation-is-the-most-practical-macbeth-is-a-very/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [“Happiness attracts happiness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-jeem/happiness-attracts-happiness/) [Ibn Jeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-jeem/) > [Life attracts life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/life-attracts-life/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/the-quality-of-writing-attracts-me-to-films-also-who-the-other-actors/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [What attracts the photographer is precisely the chance to penetrate inside phenomena, to uncover forms... He pursues them into their last refuges and surprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/what-attracts-the-photographer-is-precisely-the-chance-to-penetrate/) [Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/) > [The mind attracts the thing it dwells upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-attracts-the-thing-it-dwells-upon/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [It is in general the unexplored that attracts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/it-is-in-general-the-unexplored-that-attracts-us/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) ## 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 Attracts quotes > [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [It is in general the unexplored that attracts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/it-is-in-general-the-unexplored-that-attracts-us/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [The mind attracts the thing it dwells upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-attracts-the-thing-it-dwells-upon/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [What attracts the photographer is precisely the chance to penetrate inside phenomena, to uncover forms... He pursues them into their last refuges and surprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/what-attracts-the-photographer-is-precisely-the-chance-to-penetrate/) [Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/) > [The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/the-quality-of-writing-attracts-me-to-films-also-who-the-other-actors/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Life attracts life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/life-attracts-life/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Happiness attracts happiness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-jeem/happiness-attracts-happiness/) [Ibn Jeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-jeem/) > [The most likely explanation is the most practical. 'Macbeth' is a very popular play with audiences. If you want to sell out a theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-most-likely-explanation-is-the-most-practical-macbeth-is-a-very/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Let your REal attitude attracts someone, because physical beauty is not a LIFETIME ASSET..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dela-cruz/let-your-real-attitude-attracts-someone-because-physical-beauty-is/) [Andy Dela Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dela-cruz/) > [The first thing that attracts me to any script is the writing. If I find myself becoming lost in a good yarn, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/the-first-thing-that-attracts-me-to-any-script-is-the-writing-if-i/) [Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/) > [A burning purpose attracts others who are drawn along with it and help fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/a-burning-purpose-attracts-others-who-are-drawn-along-with-it-and/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [Being thankful for and celebrating what is attracts more of what can and will be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-thankful-for-and-celebrating-what-is-attracts-more-of-what-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Beauty attracts us men; but if, like an armed magnet it is pointed, beside, with gold and silver, it attracts with tenfold power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/beauty-attracts-us-men-but-if-like-an-armed-magnet-it-is-pointed/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Hair on a guy is something that attracts me first; if you've got a good head of hair, and you're able to style yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stroup/hair-on-a-guy-is-something-that-attracts-me-first-if-you-ve-got-a/) [Jessica Stroup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stroup/) > [Girls love drama, I dont get what attracts them to it but its as if theres some force pulling them to it but dont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiauna/girls-love-drama-i-dont-get-what-attracts-them-to-it-but-its-as-if/) [Tiauna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiauna/) [Browse all 124 Attracts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In literature it is only the wild that attracts us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-attracts-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attracts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-attracts-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/henry-david-thoreau-20_attracts_in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-a_93148.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In literature it is only the wild that attracts us.” — Henry David Thoreau", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In literature it is only the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-attracts-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-attracts-us/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```